This is a Happy Moment
Each day, we’re all mindfulness artists that can practice bringing our happiness with us, into the present moment, here and now.
Each day is an opportunity for happiness, because each day is so unique and special. When we use mindfulness to stop and observe deeply, we can see the many conditions for happiness that are all around us. Maybe it’s the beautiful weather outside, the warmth of the sun on our skin, the eyes of someone we love, the taste of fresh water, or the power of our mindful breath; there are always things to appreciate and gain inspiration from if we look closely enough. Look closer at what makes today unique; look deeply at the light and colors around you, notice the vibrancy of the animals and people in your city, touch the softness of your clothes, smell the delicious smells of the food you're so lucky to enjoy. With mindfulness, we can not only observe many conditions for happiness, but we can touch them deeply by enjoying them in the present moment, here and now. If we don’t feel as though there are any conditions of happiness around, we are not concentrating enough.
Whether we are alone or with others, if we do not enjoy the conditions around us, we aren’t wise at all. When we are smart, we can pause to search for even one or two things to be immensely grateful for, such as our sight or our breath. We are lucky to be alive, and we are lucky to share our life with so many conditions for happiness. It’s just a matter of if we can remember to acknowledge and appreciate them. It’s mindfulness that transforms the present moment into a wonderful moment.
Whether we are alone or with others, if we do not enjoy the conditions around us, we aren’t wise at all. When we are smart, we can pause to search for even one or two things to be immensely grateful for, such as our sight or our breath. We are lucky to be alive, and we are lucky to share our life with so many conditions for happiness. It’s just a matter of if we can remember to acknowledge and appreciate them. It’s mindfulness that transforms the present moment into a wonderful moment.
Training Our Happiness
Each day, we have many moments where we can train ourselves for happiness. We do this in small steps, mindfully taking advantage of pleasant moments and enjoyable observations as we accumulate positive inspiration for our happiness. Many people think after they train in school, in a career, or in a practice like meditation, then they will be happy. We must realize that happiness isn’t something we experience at the end of our efforts. Happiness is available to us right now, here in the present moment. We can build a great happiness now if we train our happiness little by little, day by day. If we train and explore our happiness each day, we will find quite a positive momentum in our awareness. When we remember each moment is an opportunity to train our happiness, we can be deeply fulfilled, deeply happy, in each step of our journey. We must not disregard the joy and wonder of the moment we’re in; because if we’re waiting to finish our studies, our degree, or our goals before exploring our happiness, we will have missed ample opportunities to develop that joy and ease along the way.
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Deepen Your Understanding: Inspire your happiness by contemplating this Discourse on Happiness, a Buddhist sutra about what makes a peaceful and happy life.
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Refilling Our Happiness
We must refill our happiness each day. Our emotions are impermanent, including our happiness. For us to extend our good feelings into the day, we have to nourish our happiness. There are many ways to do this, and everyone will have different preferences and conditions for happiness. Some people may find happiness in physical activity, others in mental stimulation, some find it in our natural world, and others in fantastical stories! We have the best understanding of what specific conditions make us the happiest. We can feed our happiness with mindfulness, positive thinking, concentration, non-attachment, and insight. When our happiness is full, we can use our happy energy to fill other people around us with joy and light. We also can more easily tolerate stress when we’re rich with happiness.
Filling up with Light
Happiness is a light we can use to guide our experience everyday. When we meditate or practice mindfulness, we're filling up our light. When we have enough light to see our own suffering, we can transform it into insight and understanding. Once we heal our hurt feelings, we have room for even more light; and with an abundance of energy to invest in things outside of ourselves, we can offer our attention to our loved ones, our community, and our planet.
Does your light shine bright today? Or is it more dull?
There is no right answer, only compassionate introspection for the sake of self-awareness.
Does your light shine bright today? Or is it more dull?
There is no right answer, only compassionate introspection for the sake of self-awareness.
Connecting to Happiness
With mindfulness, we can rediscover the happiness that’s inside us at all times. All we have to do to increase our happiness is take our attention off of everything else and focus more exclusively on our happiness. What would you rate your happiness right now, in this moment? When we become aware of our inner contentment, we can start making positive changes to strengthen it. If we find ourselves unable to be happy, we may be physically unwell or clinging to something we feel emotionally attached to. At any time, we can protect ourselves from discomfort and stress when we return to our happiness and enjoy the present moment with mindful breathing, walking, and meditation.
Don’t Chase After Happiness
Freedom is found in the present moment. We need not pursue happiness when we are happy wherever we stand.
Instead of seeking tranquility, we invite it into our life by keeping our thoughts, words, and actions peaceful.
“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.” --Mary Oliver
Instead of seeking tranquility, we invite it into our life by keeping our thoughts, words, and actions peaceful.
“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.” --Mary Oliver
The Second Mindfulness Training: True Happiness
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and stop contributing to climate change.