How To Find True Happiness?

Author: mathew_mentora_india

Ask any one a question, what is it that we want in life?? what is it that we all are struggling and seeking??
If we go deep into this question, we will find a common theme behind all our desires – The wanting to feel better.
This inner feeling may take various alternate names from our dictionary – like joy, happiness, Ecstasy, inner peace, satisfaction, fulfillment, bliss, contentment, ease, well-being etc. Whatever the word be, the basic underlying craving of the mind is the same. We are looking to avoid misery, avoid pain or suffering and we all wish to transcend to a more enjoyable state of conciousness. The basic quest within each one of us is the quest for Happiness.
This is completely natural, and is as true for every other sentient being on earth as it is for us. It is the natural way of existence to monitor how it is doing in life. If there is an imbalance then a quest for balance arises. If we need food, for instance — we feel hungry, and hunger is usually an uncomfortable experience. We don’t feel good and so, quite naturally, we look for something that will relieve our suffering, in this case food. Having eaten we feel better; our lives are in balance again.
This is one thing common to all of us. We all want to reduce our suffering and find a more comfortable, satisfying state of mind.
Human beings are gifted with a very basic choice. To be tremendously happy or be tremendously unhappy. But this freedom is very dangerous, because with this choice you become responsible.
Happiness happens when you tune yourself with Life, you fine tune life so harmoniously that everything you do from this point is Joy.
We have been distracted into unnatural preoccupations: money, prestige, power. Listening to the birds is not going to give you money. Watching a butterfly is not going to help you economically, politically, socially. These things are not profitable – but these things make you happy. A real human being takes the courage to move with things that make him happy. He seeks happiness NOW and HERE.
Being a slave of his past or clinging to hopes of a better tomorrow only can make man more miserable, coz he is neither available in the past nor can wefind him in the future. He simply destroys the very oppurtunity to expreience the best gift that life gives him – THE PRESENT.
Since ancient times, spiritual masters of all traditions have pointed to the Now as the key to the spiritual dimension. Despite this, it seems to have remained a secret. It is certainly not taught in churches and temples. If you go to a church, you may hear readings from the Gospels such as “Take no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself”. The depth and radical nature of these teachings are not recognized by us today. No one seems to realize that they are meant to live every moment that is in the present.
The secret of happiness is nothing but living in the present. Physically we live in the present moment. Our hearts beat steadily without any effort on our part. Our bodies function to keep us alive from moment to moment. However, our minds aren’t always in synch with the here and now. They tend to wander off into the future or back to the past, forfeiting the experience of the present. The present is the only time we have to enjoy. It’s the only place happiness exists. We have no control over time. We can’t speed it up or slow it down. We can only live it fully now. Right now is the time to be happy.
We can practice happiness by focusing on the present. By being aware in everthing we do. Focusing on the present moment requires awareness and concentration while releasing distracting thoughts. It requires us to make a deliberate effort to focus our minds on what we are doing or experiencing. The results are magical. For example, observe yourself doing something rather than just going through the motions. Taste your food and sip your drink rather than rushing through eating or drinking. Concentrate your attention on your breathing, your walking, or your heartbeat. Focusing on the present helps us to release stress, refresh, and enjoy the present.
You walk, now you walk with awareness, you hate someone, now you hate with awareness, you love, now you love with awareness. In awareness you will see the hatred shrinking but love and compassion growing within you.
The is the first step to happiness in everybody’s life.
Mathew Thomas is a passionate Trainer, Motivational Speaker and Educational Coach who has worked with a wide range of clients including multinational organisations, education bodies, professional training providers and individuals.
For more articles on self improvement, follow me at www.mentora.in