happiness

Eternal Happiness

/ acrosthwaitoutlookcom / 8 Comments

Happy New Year! In the last few days, we may have said or written that wish many times, to different people, some close to us, some passing acquaintances. This year it has a special feeling for what a year 2020 was for all of us, with nothing we expected, many adjustments and discoveries along the way. It seems more meaningful this year to wish those we share our lives with, a ‘happy’ new year, a year filled with health, happiness and hope.

But I’m going to stretch that a bit for you. I wish you happiness, but it’s a deep eternal happiness I wish for you. Not the happiness that comes from ease in life, or even having your health, or material security, but I wish for you a deeper happiness, one that isn’t attached to your life circumstances but that flows from within, regardless of what Life throws your way, regardless of pandemics or tsunamis, ill health or well being, the expected or unexpected. I wish for you the relentless flow of JOY from deep within you.

You’ll find the JOY within, for it comes from the God Fountain that is within us all, but you must go looking for it. Yes, the eternal spark is in all of us, but the fire doesn’t spread, the spring doesn’t flow uninvited. We need to slow down, look within, and listen to the voice of Love within us. We might need to get through the clamour of negative voices, those writhing reptiles that whisper or shout at us that we’re not good enough. We need to get past those to the voice of Love, to actively seek out God. Happiness lies within each one of us, independent of our circumstances because it comes from an eternal source. For years, the one I have spoken to is Jesus. He has been my guide to the fountain of living water that is within me. He is there to guide any who ask for help. 

I wish for you, this year, a further journey within to the source of JOY, PEACE, WISDOM and LOVE that lives within you. But you must go on the journey yourself, not just read the guidebooks, but get on your cushion or into your prayer chair, day by day by day and ask Jesus, ask God for more. Ask for JOY, for Eternal Happiness. Ask and you shall receive. Didn’t someone special tell us that??? Ask, ask again and again, patiently, trustfully with perseverance. Don’t just read about God, seek God. Our seeking and finding God through a real experience of the Divine is our purpose in life.

May you this year, know your purpose in life. May it truly be a Happy, New Year for you. And if you’re happier, with eternal happiness….remember happiness is contagious, so it will ripple out into society through you. Happy New Year my Gentle Readers.

With Hope and Happiness

Anne

Mystic in Motion

Companion on the Way with Contemplative Fire

Society Member of Shalem Institute for Contemplative Living

Companion on The Rivendell Way

Happiness is Contagious

/ acrosthwaitoutlookcom / 4 Comments

One afternoon this week I found a note in my What’s App box that ‘bit’ me. You know the ones. They hurt. Stir up old memories and reactions. I knew the person sending it was hurting but I still felt my own hurt too. At least I know enough not to respond until I’m settled! Whew. Cyber Bites can be as contagious as COVID!  

Later that night I as I meditated, one of those delightful moments happened. I’ve changed my routine so I’m using a Passage Prayer at night. After a brief reflection on my day, I repeat The Prayer of St Francis for the remaining time. Over and over I repeat the words, letting them seep into me.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

That night I could barely get past the first line. I want to be an instrument of peace. That means I want to find a way to respond to someone who is hurting, with hope, who has hurt me, with pardon. I want to find healing words, words to build a bridge between us. I’m so grateful I have choices in life. There is so much power in having a choice in how I will respond. I wrote back with conciliation and peace in my heart and received a positive note back. Whew. Step forward. Didn’t catch that Cyber Disease.

Later this week I was listening to a talk on happiness. It’s contagious. In this time of pandemic, here’s something we don’t wash way! We can let happiness spread. We can make choices to smile, to not retaliate, to be an instrument of peace. Apparently, the researchers say that in our circles of influence our happiness can spread to others and the people they know. If I have a happy spouse, friend or co-worker, someone close to me, then it increases my chances of being happy by 15%, If someone close to my first contact is happy I still get a benefit of 10%, and even a third degree contact increases my chances of happiness by 6%. Happiness is contagious. It flows both ways. I can both receive happiness and give it out to others. I can smile. I can choose to be an instrument of peace, of happiness in the world.

I can’t ‘see’ them, but I hope there were ripples of happiness that went out into the world this week, especially to the one who was so upset with me. I imagine happiness spreading to them. I hope they catch it! I’d like to be a contagious mystic.

The world needs us all choosing to be an instrument of peace and happiness. Who might receive your smile today?

From an Infectious Mystic

Anne

Mystic in Motion

Companion on the Way with Contemplative Fire

Contemplative Fire Canada, Founder

Society Member with Shalem Institute for Contemplative Living

Companion on The Rivendell Way