Practicing happiness
We should practice happiness, which is a daily act of choosing to be happy. These choices start to compound, creating a kind of equanimity, a calmness, a long term happiness… dare I say enlightenment?
As humans we tend to get ourselves into pickles. If only I had more money. If only I was married. If only I had this nice car. If I only looked like this. If I only lived here. Then I would finally be happy.
Do you remember that time where you did finally get that thing, or achieved that goal, or got some money—the happiness was short-lived, wasn’t it? Then you say to yourself, “you’re telling me that I wasted all of that time being unhappy only to find that I am still unhappy?” Yes.
There is hope.
Thich Nath Hanh said, "happiness is here and now" and he’s right. Choosing to be here and now is the first step to practicing happiness.
This is easier said than done but it’s possible. Plus, when you know this trick, there’s a direct line of sight to happiness that you can access immediately.
Practice happiness by sinking into the present moment, letting it envelope you. You will find that the feeling of being identical to the present moment is ironically* intoxicating.
*Ironic in the sense that many people seek short term thrills in order to be happy
Check out my post “Advaita Vedanta” which is related to this post.