I grew up in Westfield, a farming village on the shores of Lake Erie. It’s a delightful, friendly little town. I lived there happily for many years.
An old childhood friend of mine, who also grew up in Westfield, was fond of “bashing” the town after she moved far away. She would criticize those of our family and friends who chose to live out their lives in Westfield, calling them “stupid failures.” She didn’t see how they could possibly be happy there. She didn’t see how anyone could be happy there.
My only response was “Would you believe you can be happy in Westfield?” After all, I had lived there many happy years.
Ironically, in all the years since my friend left Westfield, she’s had a pretty unhappy life. She did not find happiness in the place she once considered paradise, the only place she said she could be happy.
This dear lady reminds me of how often we make our happiness dependent on something — anything — outside ourselves. We overlook the only place we can ever find happiness — within.
Here are a few thing Spirit has said about happiness:
- Happiness is not a place. Happiness is not your relationships, your jobs, your money, your friends or family. Happiness is not anything or anyone outside you.
- It is only when you can truly and deeply love yourselves, love where you are now, that you will find happiness.
- A happy life is an inside job. You create a happy life from within.
- The only guarantee of a happy life is reclaiming the power within, and not allowing your happiness to be determined by what or who are “out there.”
- Once you are happy, you will start noticing how beautiful your world is, how beautiful other people are, how beautiful you are.
- Enjoy your lives, your relationships, your possessions. Enjoy them fully and passionately, but without depending on them for your happiness. Even if you lost them all, you know your true and only source of happiness is within you.
- Attachment to the world around you drags you from your happiness, your joy.
- When you seek happiness within, you will empower yourselves to create and live the most joyous, abundant lives you have ever known.
What is your experience with happiness? Could you be happy anywhere, no matter what the circumstances? Or does your happiness depend on places, people, money, or whatever? Please comment below.