"Happy for No Reason isn't elation, euphoria, mood spikes, or peak experiences that don't last. It doesn't mean grinning like a fool 24/7 or experiencing a superficial high. Happy for No Reason isn't an emotion. In fact, when you are Happy for No Reason, you can have any emotion - including sadness, fear, anger or hurt - but you still experience that underlying state of peace and well-being."
(There's a lot of information in this book. They divide it into like Happiness of the Mind, Body, Heart, Spirit, etc... Below is a except from the "Heart" chapter.)
1. Focus on GratitudeIf you want more good in your life, rather than focusing your energy on the problems and obstacles, focus your attention on what's
already good, what's working.
I'm not suggesting you use gratitutde as a way to deny, ignore, suppress or sugar-goat painful feelings. Rather, gratitude is a way to incline your heart towards joy. Everyone has both challenges and blessings, but focusing your heart's energy on your blessing will make you far happier.
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you', that would suffice."
2. Practice ForgivenessWhy is it so hard to forgive? We think...
a) forgivenesss means condoning the wrong behaviour
b) forgiveness means we have to let that person back into our lives
c) feeling hatred for that person somehow gives us control, power or strength
d) that if we forgive them, we might get hurt again
e) we want to punish the offender
WRONG!
Holding onto these emotions is like taking poison and expecting it to hurt the other person. It's YOU who's hurt. When you forgive, you heal your own anger and hurt and are able to let love lead again. It's like spring cleaning for your heart.
"If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will have complete peace."
3. Spread LovingkindnessWish the best for everyone.
Your friends and family, all living beings around the world.
"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves"
Of course... Say is all very easy.
It only takes a couple of minutes to read and write all these down, but the real challenge is to incorporate it into your lives.
I don't expect that I can follow through with everything I've learnt...
But, if I can pick up just ONE idea.
One new idea, one new habit...
That can make me choose happiness more often, then it would have been worth all my time.
...
May we all be "Happy For No Reason!"
