When we ask ourselves what we want in life – the answer always is: I want to be happy. Every single person wants to be happy. We have reasonable comforts in life – a home, family, relationships, a job, our daily food and other facilities. Yet we find ourselves being mostly unhappy. We get irritated fast. We shout. We don’t have patience. We compare ourselves with others and always find ourselves wanting. These are not signs of happy people.
Happiness is an elusive thing. Our happiness seems to depend on everything from the weather to how well our clothes are ironed. When we look around we see that money is not the key to happiness, or good health or a bigger home or faster car or the latest ipod. There are some people who have everything and are never happy. And there are some who have lesser of material blessings and are still happy. The difference is the attitude of the persons.
Let us make our lives simpler. Each week spend two hours in one area of your home and remove the clutter. Donate what you don’t need to charity. A tidy home makes for a smiling face and better japa and meditation. Do not take on more load of work that is possible for you at home or work. Learn to say no.
Maintain your health. Eat healthy food. Go for a brisk walk daily. Sleep sufficient number of hours. This takes care of your physical well being.
Do not nag. Do not shout and criticise at all time. Present your opinion or suggestion in simple way which is not judgemental. Have softness and sweetness in speech and respect for all at home. We must give respect first to get respect. Even when we are not in a good mood, we must not blast off our moods on others. If you consciously force yourself to be calm and smiling, you will soon find yourself that way. This will help you have good relationship at home and with friends and at place of work.
Do not focus on bad news or bad television all the time. Switch off the television and read a good book or inspiring article. Have a hobby which gives you pleasure.
Most important change we must make in ourselves is to learn to appreciate what we have and be content with our lot in life. This does not mean we do not work hard. We must work hard and accept the results of our efforts as blessings from God. Appreciation and contentment of what we are given will make our lives happy. We don’t have to seek or achieve or get more in order to be happy. We can be happy now. Gratitude for what we have and contentment gives great peace. We will have a heightened sense of well being.
See the life of the farmer’s wife in this story:
A farmer lived in a small village with his wife and three children. His house was small and comfortable and he had sufficient land and produce to make a good living. Due to a sudden problem, his aged parents had to move in with him. The furniture, people and space at home had to be shifted and re-arranged to make place for the parents. This left the wife fuming and unhappy. After some time she went to the wise man of the village and sought counsel. He heard her out and said: the answer to your problem is very simple. Please keep a dozen hens in your living room for a week.
The woman was surprised but followed the orders. The hens clucked all the time. They dropped feathers and shit in the living room. Their food and water was strewn everywhere. After a week, the woman was fed up and went to the wise man. He told her: the solution is not complete. You must bring in six goats into your living room. After you do so, please let me know how it goes.
The constant bleating and butting of the goats, the smells of their bodies, food and refuse drove everyone crazy. And the hens had made the living room their roost. Again after a week the woman went to the wise man and complained. The wise man said: just do one more thing and the process is complete. And after that you will be very happy. Bring three cows into the living room. And the woman did so.
The constant bleating and butting of the goats, the smells of their bodies, food and refuse drove everyone crazy. And the hens had made the living room their roost. Again after a week the woman went to the wise man and complained. The wise man said: just do one more thing and the process is complete. And after that you will be very happy. Bring three cows into the living room. And the woman did so.
The living room was in an uproar. The cows, the goats and the hens seemed to be everywhere. The noise and smells of the animals were intolerable. With a week the woman was fed up. She made up her mind to seek out the wise man and give him a piece of her mind and get rid of all the clutter and animals from her living room. She went to the wise man and raised her voice: what kind of advice do you give? My life is hell now. I am getting rid of all animals. I want my living room back clean and uncluttered. The wise man said: yes please do that. That would complete the process.
The woman went back and cleared out all the hens, goats and cows from her living room. She threw out some old rubbish too. She scrubbed and cleaned and made her living room fine. She also cleaned up the other rooms. The house was clean and fresh and she was very happy. She went to the wise man and said: your remedy worked. My house is spacious and fine and I am happy.
The wise man smiled: he said your house did not change. It is same. You have learnt to appreciate what you have. That makes you happy and content. Appreciation of what we have is the key.
The wise man smiled: he said your house did not change. It is same. You have learnt to appreciate what you have. That makes you happy and content. Appreciation of what we have is the key.
Finally we must take care of our soul. Know that you are not the body but the soul. It is the nature of the soul to be in bliss. You can uncover this bliss by regular meditation and SitaRam mantra japa and following other spiritual teachings of the ParamGuru.
