The title of this blog is a quote by Zhuangzi which is on my calendar today.
Simple and yet so true.
Everybody is always trying to be as happy as possible.
When you are feeling ‘unhappy’, it seems like you’ re failing somehow.
But nothing is further from the truth.
First of all, what is happiness?
To me,
Happiness is feeling content with where I am in life.
Happiness is feeling grateful for everyone in my life.
Happiness is breathing.
Happiness is being alive.
Happiness is, indeed, not striving for happiness, but just being, accepting.
I absolutely believe, and experience, that the moment you let go of the need to be happy, the need to be bubbly, the need to succeed in all that you’re doing, that is the moment where you find peace. And that peace to me, is happiness.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with celebrating, with feeling festive, as long as you don’t see this kind of bubbly happiness, as the standard of happiness in life.
Therefore, not striving for this ecstatic form of happiness, not striving to avoid feelings of sadness, distress, …is to me the way to real happiness. Because those are everyone’s reality, it is a realistic way of going through life, with its ups and downs.
Accepting these waves, knowing that these feelings are as much part of your life as any other feeling, that is real happiness.
My invitation to you all this week is:
Embrace every feeling in your life.
Know that we all go through these (e-)motions.
That is living fully.
Don’t dwell on negativity, acknowledge it, then move on. Don’t suppress negative feelings, and don’t nurture them either.
Especially this time of year where we look back on what happened the past year, and where everyone has ‘good intentions’ for the year to come, don’t force happiness, don’t strive for it.
Let things come your way, and accept what is.
You can change where you feel change is needed, but don’t judge too hard. Not yourself, nor others.
All is happening for a reason, all is okay in the grand picture of life, even though we might not always understand the why of things.
We, as humans, always feel the need to control things, but it is in the letting go of that need for control, that all works out perfectly.
Not always as we thought was best for us, but the Universe* has our back.
Feel faith instead of fear.
Feel compassion instead of anger.
Feel connected instead of thinking that you are all alone.
Whenever I feel my need for understanding and control bubble up, I say these beautiful words, written by Gabby Bernstein**:
I welcome a presence far beyond my physical sight.
I choose to forget what I think I need.
I surrender my desires to the Universe.
Thank you, Universe, for guiding me and showing me clear direction.
Thank you, Universe, for revealing to me exactly what I need to know.
I welcome the energy of the Universe to guide me and show me where to go, what to do, and what to say.
I choose to forget what I think I need and I let the Universe be my guide.
Thank you all for reading me, and for supporting me on Medium. If you want unlimited access to all of my articles, and of many other authors, you can become a Medium Member. You’ll be supporting me and all the other authors. Many, many thanks to you all!!!
Katrien
*’The Universe Has Your Back’, by Gabby Bernstein.
** ‘Daily practice’ in the Gabby app by Gabrielle Bernstein.