Practicing Happiness

Ever since I started with practicing gratitude all kinds of new opportunities opened up for me. First, I learned about The Emotion Code which helped me release unwanted baggage of the past. Through it I discovered that I didn’t mess up my life but rather had to restore something from my past which resulted in joint disease. It gave me the choice to opt for hip replacement surgery and hasten my recovery. Secondly, I was able to forgive my ancestors and go on a course of spiritual growth like never before. Third, I can focus now on matters of true authenticity and “being-ness.” Since this is all happening at the end of the year 2010, I am very confident that the next year will bring many surprises and successes.

I started reading a book by Marci Shimoff “Happy for No Reason.”

 Marci did her homework in exploring happiness from many different angles, mostly coming from the inside. One comment especially compelled me to write this essay. She discovered that the wording in the Declaration of Independence “in pursuit of happiness” had a different meaning at the time of Thomas Jefferson. Rather than meaning “chasing happiness” it was used for “practicing” like in a carrier, as an occupation or interest.

Ms. Shimoff makes very clear that happiness is not the result of reaching a goal, finding a meaningful relationship or job, or not even having lots of money. It is more a state of mind which can be cultivated through better habits and intentions. Among other ideas, she suggests to focus on

Three principles:
• Principle of expansion and openness
• Concept of a friendly and supportive universe
• Law of Attraction which brings us what we appreciate.

For many decades now I have been studying the Divine Principle which starts out in its introduction with: Everyone is struggling to attain happiness and avoid misfortune. I believe that we are “programmed” by our creator to be happy. Like most people I have always thought that we had to strive for it like reaching for a goal. I always knew that happiness couldn’t be achieved by getting things, or being in any certain circumstance. It had to come from the inside, instead of external influences.

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."  ~~ William Feather (1889-1981) Writer

Thanks to Marci Shimoff’s book I came to understand that it is more a daily practice of being-ness which can be broken down into the seven steps she mentions in her book:

1. Take responsibility for your happiness
2. Watch your mind by checking your beliefs

3. Watch your heart by focusing on gratitude, forgiveness and kindness

4. Build your body with good food and exercise (here is an example for an easy stretching exercise which also inspires forgiveness and mindfulness by Dr. Ted Morter of Arkansas, who also developed the B.E.S.T. system.)
5. Build your spirit by connecting to your creator
6. Find your purpose and passion
7. Nourish your relationships

That’s sounds like a mouthful, but we have a whole life to figure it out. Marci gives us inspiring stories for examples as well as certain exercises to apply on a daily basis, which will direct you in a more happy and fulfilling direction.

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”  ~~ Helen Keller (1880-1968) American writer and Activist

Here is my take on Practicing Happiness:
1. Decide to be happy; with the emphasis on BEING
2. Establish happy habits – take baby steps looking for happy things
3. Belief you can be happy – take ownership
4. Banish the myth of “more”
5. Banish the myth of “someday”
6. Breathe deeply, relax and feel your body expand
7. Choose lightness – allow your body to stay expanded (contrary to contracted)
8. Base your choices on how you feel (lightness), only you can make you happy
9. Trust that everything happens for your good – the universe is supportive
10. Repeat happy words over and over
11. Look for blessings in all circumstances
12. You are like a magnet – you attract to you what you think, feel, say or act on
13. Be and feel happy – the law of attraction will work for you
14. Get out of the victim mode by letting go of “the baggage”
15. Focus your intention on “Being Happy”
16. You deserve to be happy, it is your birthright
17. Focus on the NOW – happiness is only possible in the Present Moment
18. Let you heart guide you
19. Happiness is healing

Here is a guideline to a complimentary “Happy for No Reason” work book by Marci Shimoff: http://www.learningstrategies.info/pdf/hfnr_workbook.pdf

May you experience a renewed sense of happiness during this coming year.