Happiness is something which has not left anyone untouched. We all know what happiness is. But it is very fragile. Now you are happy. Just one nasty phone call, are you still able to keep your happiness? One nasty phone call and your happiness is gone. Your happiness is fragile.
What is that that can make our happiness stronger? I call that Wisdom. Here are five secrets to maintaining your happiness:
1. Broaden your view : look at bigger problems!
Look at the world - there are greater and bigger problems. Your problems will appear smaller. The moment your problems appear smaller, you will get the energy and confidence to deal with it or solve it. Do you want to know how to go one step further?
Focusing your energy on something which you find useful, find your purpose. To me the most meaningful thing is bringing happiness in the lives of people, instead of running after happiness.
Serve those who are in greater need.
Once a wise man drew a line on a board and told his student to make the line shorter without touching or erasing it. How would you do it? You have to shorten a line without touching it.
The intelligent one (referring to the student) then drew a much longer line underneath that line. So, the line automatically became shorter.
The lesson here is that if your difficulties appear to be very big, lift your eyes because you are only focused on yourself. If you lift your eyes up and look at others who have difficulties, you will suddenly feel your burden is not as bad as you thought earlier. If you think you have some big problem, look at people who have a greater problem. Suddenly, you will get confidence that my problem is much smaller, and I can manage it.
2. See your life in context of time and space
Look at your own life. In the past, you had many problems. They have all come and gone. Know that even this will go and you do have the energy and power to overcome it. You will get self-confidence by understanding and looking at your own past.
3. Unlock the power of your breath
Our breath is linked to our emotions. For every emotion, there is a particular rhythm in the breath. So, when you cannot directly harness your emotions, with the help of breath you can do that. If you are in theater, you would know that a director asks you to breathe faster when you have to show anger. If you have to show a serene scene, director would tell you to breathe softer and slower. If we understand the rhythm of our breath, we are able to have a say over our mind. We can win over any negative emotions like anger, jealousy, greed, and we are able to smile more from our heart.
4. Have faith in a higher power
Do you know, in anger we usually say, ‘I give up.’ Without frustration or anger say, ‘I give this problem up, and I cannot solve it, let the Divine help me.’ And know that you will always be helped. Have the confidence that you will be helped. A power in the universe is going to help you.
5. Be spontaneous!
Spontaneity! Be spontaneous. Spontaneity will come when you take a few minutes to go deep within yourself. There is nothing great in smiling when everything is normal, and when everything is going the way you want. But if you awaken the valor inside of you, and say, ‘Come what may, I am going to keep smiling’, you will notice tremendous energy, will rise from within you. And the problem is nothing; it just comes and disappears.
