“What Would It Take to Make You Happy?” was the article in my inbox in the oprah.com newsletter that caught my attention this morning.
Do you feel happy? If you do not, you are not alone. It seems the longing for happiness is commonplace among us.
The author of the article commented that she called Dr. Phil and asked, “How do you figure out specifically what you want in life?”
“You must ask yourself a series of four questions,” he replied. They are:
1) What do I want?
2) What must I do to have it?
3) How would I feel when I have it?
4) So, what I really want is to feel ___ (fill in the blank)?
Dr. Phil gave an example of a woman he interviewed. He would ask the questions and keep peeling down till he got to the real root of her desire. Perhaps you can take a pen and paper and flush out your true desires by journaling.
Another article contained a series of happiness quotes. I thought you might like to contemplate on some of them…
| “Happiness is in your ability to love others.” ~ Leo Tolstoy |
“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” ~ Aristotle
“The only joy in the world is to begin.” ~ Cesare Pavese
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
“Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.” ~ Jaques Prevert
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” ~ Iris Murdoch
“It is only possible to live happily ever after on a daily basis.” ~ Margaret Bonanno
“Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
“I wake up every morning with a great desire to live joyfully.” ~ Anna Howard Shaw
The article went on to share a few words of wisdom from Thich Nhat Hanh:
“Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice… No one can prevent you from being aware of each step you take or each breath in and breath out.”
“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.”
“Enlightenment is always there. Small enlightenment will bring great enlightenment. If you breathe in and are aware that you are alive—that you can touch the miracle of being alive—then that is a kind of enlightenment.”
“Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.”
“It is possible to live happily in the here and now. So many conditions of happiness are available—more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don’t have to run into the future in order to get more.”
“People suffer because they are caught in their views. As soon as we release those views, we are free and we don’t suffer anymore.”
“Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.”
“Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now.”
“When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?”
“To be loved means to be recognized as existing.”
“Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.”
“We have to continue to learn. We have to be open. And we have to be ready to release our knowledge in order to come to a higher understanding of reality.”
All this talk of happiness prompted me to look up the words to the song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin. Why not hum a few bars and turn this day into the wonderful miracle that it is? : )
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Here is a little song I wrote.
You might want to sing it note for note.
Don’t worry, be happy.
In every life, we have some trouble.
When you worry, you make it double.
Don’t worry, be happy……
Ain’t got no place to lay your head?
Somebody came and took your bed?
Don’t worry, be happy.
The landlord say your rent is late?
He may have to litigate?
Don’t worry, be happy .
Look at me, I am happy.
Don’t worry, be happy.
Here I give you my phone number.
When you worry, call me.
I make you happy.
Don’t worry, be happy.
Ain’t got no cash, ain’t got no style?
Ain’t got no girl to make you smile?
But don’t worry, be happy.
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown,
And that will bring everybody down.
So don’t worry, be happy (now)…..
There is this little song I wrote.
I hope you learn it note for note.
Like good little children,
Don’t worry, be happy.
Listen to what I say.
In your life expect some trouble,
But when you worry,
You make it double.
Don’t worry, be happy……
Don’t worry, don’t do it, be happy.
Put a smile on your face.
Don’t bring everybody down like this.
Don’t worry, it will soon pass,
Whatever it is.
Don’t worry, be happy.
