Every disease or ailment, whether it be cancer, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure or something else, has a series of warning signs. In ever case, when we experience an abnormality, we tend to move quickly to do something to get back to normal. Our physical feelings tell us when were well, and they also tell us when were not well. If we want to live a long and healthy life we had better pay attention to our physical feelings. In the same way, nature also gives us a way to tell whats right for us and whats wrong for us in life. Just as nature gives us physical pain to tell us when something is wrong in the physical realm, nature also gives us emotional pain to guide us toward doing or not doing things in the emotional or mental realm. The key to dramatically enhancing the quality of your life is simply to follow the guidance you are given. You should always listen to your mind, your body, and your emotions. Just as our natural physical state is health and vitality, our natural emotional state is peace and happiness. Whenever you experience a deviation from peace and happiness, its an indication that something is wrong or out of balance in your life. Something is wrong with what youre thinking, doing, or saying. Feelings of ease or uneasiness, happiness or unhappiness, can be triggered by a myriad of factors. But it is your feeling of inner happiness that is the best indicator you could ever have to tell you what you should be doing more of and what you should be doing less of. Unhappiness is to your life, what pain is to your body. Its sent as message to tell you that what youre doing is wrong for you. Unfortunately many people dont listen to their inner feelings and are reluctant to use their own happiness as the standard by which to judge the events in their lives. Human beings are naturally happiness driven. Everything we do in life is oriented toward maintaining and increasing our level of happiness. We are built so that its impossible for us to feel any other way, without making ourselves mentally and emotionally ill. The fact is, you cant give away to anyone else what you dont have yourself. So, you cant make someone else happy if your are not happy yourself. The very best way to assure the happiness of others is to be happy yourself and then in turn, share your happiness with them. For example, when a parent has a high level of self-esteem and happiness, he or she then expresses it and shares it with his or her children. When a parent does this, they are giving the greatest gift a parent can give. When you are unhappy it depresses and discourages the people around you. If you want to make others happy, start by living the kind of life and doing the kind of things that make you happy. One of the most important things that we ever do in life is to serve other people in some way. It is through service to others that we achieve a sense of meaning and purpose in life. But, the key is to serve with joy and happiness. I believe we are here to serve others, but were also here to achieve our own joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment as a result. When we feel that we are making a contribution to the world were living in and that were putting in more than were taking out, it raises our level of self-esteem. Happiness is composed of a many elements. They can be physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Each person requires their own particular combination of these elements to feel the very best about themselves. It is important to understand that these elements are constantly changing. And only you can tell what it takes to make you happy. That is why, the only way to judge whether a job, a relationship, an investment, or any decision, is right for you is to get in touch with your inner feelings and listen to your heart. Youre true to yourself only when you follow your inner light, when you listen to what Ralph Waldo Emerson called the still small voice within. Youre being the very best person you can be only when you have the courage and the fortitude to allow your definition of happiness, whatever it may be, to be the guiding light of every part of your life. Whenever you feel stressed, anxious, worried, or uneasy about any part of your life, its natures way of telling you that something is wrong. Very often, youll suffer from what is often called divine discontent. Youll feel fidgety and uneasy for a reason or reasons that are unclear to you. Youll be dissatisfied with the status quo. Sometimes, youll be angry or irritable. Very often, youll get upset with things that have nothing to do with the real issue. Youll have a deep inner sense that something isnt as it should be, and youll often feel like a fish on a hook, wriggling and squirming emotionally to get free. And that is a good thing. Divine discontent always comes from a positive change in life. If you were perfectly satisfied, you would never take any action to improve or change your circumstances. Only when youre dissatisfied for some reason do you have the inner motivation to engage in the other behaviors that lead you happiness and fulfillment in life. When something is making you unhappy, for any reason, its natural tendency is to get worse rather than better. So avoid the temptation to engage in denial or pretend that nothing is wrong. Never simply wish, hope, or pray, that whatever it is that's bothering you will go away on its own. The fact is that it probably will get worse before it gets better and ultimately it will require you to face the situation head on, and do something about it. Many people work very hard and experience considerable frustration trying to do a particular job. However, in terms of their own happiness, the right answer might be to do something else, or to do what theyre doing in a different place, or do it with different people. One of the highest and most important goals you can ever set for yourself is the goal of having peace of mind. Once you set this goal and work towards achieving it, youll be holding yourself to the standard of inner peace, and youll find that every decision you make will turn out to be the best decision. Youll have more energy, enthusiasm, and become more creative. Youll become a kinder, gentler, and a more loving person. When you set peace of mind as your standard, youll tap into a source of wisdom that will guide you without fail toward doing and saying the right things in every circumstance. The most important things you can do to get in touch with your inner feelings is to practice quiet meditation on a daily basis. You should set aside 30 to 60 minutes each day for meditation. When you begin to practice meditation on a daily basis, youll begin to experience a flow of energy coming into your mind and body. Youll have a tremendous sense of well-being, and a stream of ideas will flow through your mind. And, most importantly, youll get the answer to the most important situation facing you every single time you meditate. You must learn to trust yourself. Take the time to listen to your emotions and your inner feelings as to what makes you happy or unhappy. When your inner feelings tell you something is right for you, then do it. If they tell you something is wrong for you, then dont do it. You must never compromise on what your inner voice tells you to do. You will greatly enhance harmony, peace, and happiness in every area of your life by developing the habit of listening to yourself and acting on the guidance you receive. Set peace of mind as your highest goal. Associate only with those people and work in only those situations that make you happy and contribute to your sense of inner peace and well-being. Always please yourself in all things. Happiness is the highest human good, and your happiness is your highest good as well. When you listen to yourself and act on what you hear inside, you will have a life filled with success, happiness, and fulfillment. Copyright2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. |
