an insider's guide to happiness
what are you afraid of?
fear is a natural response. everyone feels it, yet we treat it like some kind of abnormality; something to be fought and overcome. perhaps there's some wisdom in that sentiment, because fear breeds action. if only we could see our fears as empowering, we would not have trouble chasing or achieving our dreams. if what we fear is what we have to do to be happy, then the only thing to fear is inaction.
do you deserve to be happy?
one of the major causes of unhappiness is guilt. if we've acted in a way we feel was inappropriate or hurtful, we feel guilty for bringing about such unhappiness. why does someone who causes so much pain deserve to be happy? if only we realised that causing unhappiness is how other people grow. we teach tough lessons and we are taught them. therefore, in order to fulfill our true purpose, we have to leave things unsaid, turn people down and be the one who disappoints the rest. if you can let go of your guilt, you can finally unburden the soul.
are you in denial?
when we see someone we know is in a negative situation, but appears to be happy anyway; someone with drug problems, someone whose relationship has just fallen apart, someone who has just lost their job; we say 'they're in denial'. it feels good to say that about someone else - it's like we've solved it. but do those in denial really need a dose of reality? they don't deserve to be woken from their dream, much like you wouldn't wake a sleepwalker. like guilt, denial may be the key to your happiness. once you finally to let go of it, it's like catching your breath.
what if you could start over?
i keep hearing people say they'd do everything differently if they could start over. i've always thought that you'd just do everything the same, because you wouldn't know any better. you'd have to consciously come back. so maybe starting over is second chances; you know this time this is it, there's no going back now. second chances happen as the universe rearranges itself - that's why second chances are not earned, but given. next time you get one, remember to say thank you.
to be continued
fear is a natural response. everyone feels it, yet we treat it like some kind of abnormality; something to be fought and overcome. perhaps there's some wisdom in that sentiment, because fear breeds action. if only we could see our fears as empowering, we would not have trouble chasing or achieving our dreams. if what we fear is what we have to do to be happy, then the only thing to fear is inaction.
do you deserve to be happy?
one of the major causes of unhappiness is guilt. if we've acted in a way we feel was inappropriate or hurtful, we feel guilty for bringing about such unhappiness. why does someone who causes so much pain deserve to be happy? if only we realised that causing unhappiness is how other people grow. we teach tough lessons and we are taught them. therefore, in order to fulfill our true purpose, we have to leave things unsaid, turn people down and be the one who disappoints the rest. if you can let go of your guilt, you can finally unburden the soul.
are you in denial?
when we see someone we know is in a negative situation, but appears to be happy anyway; someone with drug problems, someone whose relationship has just fallen apart, someone who has just lost their job; we say 'they're in denial'. it feels good to say that about someone else - it's like we've solved it. but do those in denial really need a dose of reality? they don't deserve to be woken from their dream, much like you wouldn't wake a sleepwalker. like guilt, denial may be the key to your happiness. once you finally to let go of it, it's like catching your breath.
what if you could start over?
i keep hearing people say they'd do everything differently if they could start over. i've always thought that you'd just do everything the same, because you wouldn't know any better. you'd have to consciously come back. so maybe starting over is second chances; you know this time this is it, there's no going back now. second chances happen as the universe rearranges itself - that's why second chances are not earned, but given. next time you get one, remember to say thank you.
to be continued