How Happiness Happens ...

Come home to yourself. Observe yourself ... self-observation is such a delightful and extraordinary thing. After a while you don't have to make any effort, because, as illusions begin to crumble, you begin to know things that cannot be described. It's called happiness. Everything changes and you become addicted to awareness.
(Anthony deMello, in "Awareness")

We only change the things we understand ... and those things we don't understand, of which we are unaware, we repress. But, when we do understand a thing, it changes.

One of the goals for a human, who is becoming aware, is to lose fear. The time comes (incrementally for some, and more *whammo* for others), when we fear no one and fear nothing. We stop fearing the opinions of others, the judgments of others, the attacks of others .... we stop fearing either success or failure ... we cease to fear dishonor, disgrace, and the dismantling of a reputation. We stop fearing appearing the fool ... and it's a delightful state to abide in...!

(I have begun to taste of this!)

I know the joy of coming awake ... the joy of feeling more alive, more energetic, more focused, less demanding ... relaxed. No more driving with the brakes on, just in case.

As deMello puts it, "I'm an ass, you're an ass, so where's the problem?"

(that makes me snicker every time I read it...! Ahhhhh, the relief of it!)

It seems to be true to me that the three most difficult things about being human, have nothing to do with accomplishments or achievements ... as I'm seeing things, they are: returning love for hate; including those who are excluded; and admitting that we are wrong.

Can you imagine a world wherein all humans would practice those three things...?

As I'm experiencing this, happiness comes when I say "yes" to what is. "Yes" to what comes." "Yes" to what is given to me. You can call it awareness, or awakening, or spirituality, or freedom, or love, or whatever floats your boat. It's all the same thing, and "yes" leads to happiness ...

So ... "Yes!"

Shalom, Dena