What is it, we have to do to be Happy?

Chapter 8

'What is it we have to do?'

We just have to become and remain happy and peaceful.

How do we do this?

In every situation ask yourself 'What is it that I have to do?'
If someone is angry, should I join in and become angry? What will that achieve ?

We communicate a great deal through our thoughts. Whatever we are thinking is shown in our eyes. If there is happiness and love inside me it will reach you. If we have angry or revengeful thoughts you'll be able to see it in my eyes. It will create fear in you. As our habits drive our thoughts so what we see is also habitual. In other words we are locked into a cycle. If we don’t change our thoughts we always ‘get what we always got’. Thoughts have great power. Thoughts are like seeds you plant in your mind and like seeds need tender loving care. Be the gardener to your mind. Look at the garden, identify the weeds and the seeds. Pull out the weeds and nurture the seeds. The result: beautiful flowers.

Now is your opportunity to create happiness in yourself and others. When you are happy, your eyes show happiness, your body projects happiness and you create good feelings amongst people. Work at your own happiness and you will gradually eradicate the behaviour that creates conflict amongst others. Your happiness will gradually bring people together, unite them not divide them. Scientists have acknowledged that there is a “universal connectedness”. The ability for one particle to affect another over any distance. In other words particles and hence human beings are not an island. We are affected by and affect others behaviour. Another way of looking at it is that there is a “oneness with creation”. All of us whether creatures that walk the earth or growing things of the earth. Even the air, water, earths itself. Are parts of this oneness that binds all together and gives life to all? A connectedness that can be made in meditation.

If you make a mistake don’t worry about it. Mistakes are made under the influence of our old habits. It took a long time to form them so they are not going to disappear quickly. Often our logic and understanding tells us not to do something but we still end up doing it. Why? We revert to our habits. At this point don’t beat yourself up. Don’t start telling yourself how bad you are. Do not fall into this trap. Instead look at your successes, look at what you have achieve over the last 24 hours. Focus on the positive, focus on your successes. In order to overcome those old habits it takes time and practice. It’s the same process as changing your golf swing or giving up smoking or changing any habit: you just keep practicing.

Remember, Positive thoughts give us energy and strength. Negative thoughts rob us of our energy and power, with the result that we feel stressed and tired. We are by nature positive therefore, thinking negative thoughts is not natural and a dysfunctional thinking. We can change our way of thinking if we want to. We can't control other people, situations or circumstances, but we can control what we think. As we have discussed, it takes time to change our pattern of thinking. But that is not a reason not to make the effort. You can do it. All you have to do is commit yourself to a plan of action and be patient with yourself.

It starts with a thought..... Today!

Remind yourself again and again:

Who am I?

What is it that I have to do?'

Why am I in this world?

Wherever I am, I have to create an atmosphere of peace and happiness.

Next: Raja Yoga