Think your way to happiness
THINK YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS
Some of the topics that have been so listed here run the risk of being thought of as mundane and boring. We forget that often it is the so called boring topics that take us to the life we want. Meaning that busy as we are in our day to day chores we neglect some pressing issues that have run our life for so long and we continue to do them even though we are not really fulfilled. I make this statement after talking to numerous people.
a) Why are you doing the job that you are doing?
b) If there is a dead end relationship that you are sure will not work out, why is it that you are continuing?
c) Why are you quick to anger even though there is no apparent reason behind the same?
d) Why have you not taken a vacation for so long even though you have been yearning for it?
e) When u dearly want to express love, what is that that still holds you back?
Amazing!! These are questions that have been niggling at me for many years too. I never had a concrete answer for the same. I slowly realized that it the resistance to change that had me stick with the status quo. Another reason that came to light was the fear of being rebuffed and ridiculed. These are things that cannot be ousted from our psyche just with rationale and logical thinking. The reason is that they are lodged deep in our subconscious mind which is further reinforced with strong doses of suggestions from friends, family and outside sources. To name a few:
a) You are miserable but at least you are comfortable. What will happen if you are on the streets?
b) What if the girl you love rejects you? Better revel in your love for her than know for sure that
doesn’t find you attractive.
c) Go for security. Concepts like freedom and extreme happiness exist only in movies and novels.
Small wonder that the majority of the population is generally unhappy though they come across as being otherwise. What if you know that a great deal of unhappiness can be saved with just one single step? It is powerful but yet so subtle and that is why people just ignore it.
It is the habit of imbuing yourself to think and never taking anything for granted. It is gently cultivating a mindset wherein everything is a possibility. It is the habit of considering ourselves as supreme beings and go beyond transient things like looks, color and similar stuff. It is the habit of looking at life and its mysterious ways as a learning experience rather than as a temporary failure.
When do you get to such a level? It is only when u develop the habit of thinking and training your mind to arrive at answers instead of wasting precious energy fretting and feeling miserable at how things are and how helpless you are. Enough theory. What do you do now?
a) For five minutes everyday contemplate the fact that you are indeed an unlimited human being contrary to what others have told you. Remember that people who have achieved phenomenal glory have had this idea firmly imprinted in them. Ever heard of roger banister? If you have not, he is a legend and a sort of pioneer in the world of sports. For years it was believed that a mile cannot be run in under five minutes. Medical reports in fact confirmed that the heart would explode if anyone ran that fast. For decades nobody even attempted the feat. Roger banister was the first guy who broke the five minute mile. Within a short while many followed suite. Do you think that he could have accomplished this had he thought of himself as a guy with limited abilities?
b) Do write down a list of accomplishments that you have had over the years. In this journal if you remember, list the exact words how people complimented you. Big or small. List them all. Over a period of time two things will happen. You would realize that there so many incidents that you have neglected which actually proved that you are a unique human being. Secondly your confidence in yourself will grow by leaps and bounds which paves the ideal path for elevated thinking.
c) Close your mind tightly to any negative suggestions that people may try to foist on you. Avoid any place that has talk going on of what you do not want to hear, deprecatory things, negative gossip and stuff like that. Do these exercises for at least a month.
d) Once when this is done you are ready for the final step. Ruthlessly question every area of your life wherein you are not happy. Question why you are acting the way you are doing now. Ask your mind for answers repeatedly when you are calm and relaxed. (Examples include “what steps do I take to find that job profile I am after? How can I better get along with the opposite sex? What is holding me back? Why am I neglecting my health this way?) They would arrive like a flash when you are least expecting them. This is because once your mind is empowered (by doing the first three steps) it becomes much better at searching for answers. It can better combat the demons of procrastination and hopelessness.
Many people forget that step 4 might not work if the preceding steps are not followed. You cannot have an outside in approach. Meaning you cannot cling to limiting beliefs about yourself and then expect empowering answers to come. Positive thinking cannot be used as a crutch for a poor self image. Remember that. That’s the reason for many who try such methods; it’s an exercise in frustration. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right approach, you can get anything you sincerely desire.
