A tradition of happiness Oct 2019

A tradition of happiness Oct 2019

A tradition of happiness

Dear Reader,   

For the longest time, I used to get cheesed-off by statements like “Happiness is an inside job,” “Happiness depends upon ourselves, not circumstances,” or “Happiness is a state of mind.” I used to feel that they were mere platitudes that unconsciously blamed the victim and belittled the sufferings of those caught in unhappy circumstances.

However, as I grew in life, I realised the truth of these statements. They do not mean that you are supposed to be immune to your circumstantial suffering. Who can deny the pain of loss, heartbreak, failure, rejection, disease, and discrimination? It is human to feel pain and grieve for losses, but by emphasising the role of the inner Self, we divest situations and people of the power to determine our happiness. The question, therefore, is “What can I do to change my situation from a negative one to a happy one?” And the answers can vary. Sometimes it is not giving up and trying one more time, sometimes it is gathering courage and speaking our truth, sometimes it is walking away from toxicity, sometimes it is creating a healthy boundary or giving up a bad habit, and othertimes it can be thinking out of the box. The more we go within, the more cues we get about how to think and act in order to create a happy life for ourselves. 

One of the things that give inordinate joy to humans is helping someone in need, selflessly. The pure happiness that this simple act unleashes is indescribable and is its own reward. And while it does not take much to be negative, the opportunity to do good does not cross our paths so often. To solve this problem, Jamuna Rangachari, former assistant editor of Life Positive, has come up with the novel idea of leaving a spiritual will, similar to a financial will, in the family. An act of selfless service that passes from one generation to another as a family legacy. Family traditions have a habit of surviving over generations simply because people feel that they owe it to their ancestors. What a wonderful way of creating the channel of happiness to flow unceasingly into our lives! This Diwali, let’s pledge to lighten up a sad face and create a family tradition out of it. This will be bigger than all the riches we hope to leave behind for our loved ones.

Have a happy October!