How To Be Happy In Challenging Times Part 2

Mike George another one of my favourite spiritual teachers and coaches really drilled down into the psychology of Happiness and really unraveled in his clear steps and guidance of what stands between us, and our happiness.

Here are the main elements of his talk on How To Be Happy In Challenging Times: Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjHYwQeNm7Y

Mike described three primary feelings when we are in a happy state:

Ask yourself: What it is it that is sustaining this particular feeling?

1. A state of feeling of contentment. This is the deepest form of happiness. When I am content I notice I ask the question how do I sustain the state of contentment? When we are in a state of contentment we are not touched by anything or affected by anyone or anything that’s going on around me or outside of me. If I am going to sustain contentment that I have to accept everyone and everything as they are, as it is at every moment. The moment I move into a state of non- acceptance, disapproval. The moment I allow myself to be affected by anything around me then my state of contentment disappears. I’m responsible for that state and all states that I feel.

2. A state of joy or joyfulness. Joy is noticed in the in-experience when we are in the process of something. What is the process that sustains joyfulness? It’s in the process of being creative. Creativity, maybe the primary impulse of the human spirit. It’s the one thing we are all doing all the time the deepest impulse of the human spirit is to create and be creative. The deepest impulse of the spirit is to create and the deepest level of creation is to create our own state of being. Joy for me is felt when I am in the process of being creative. If you ask the mundane levels of the creative’s, the poet, the painter or the writer they will tell you there’s a great joy in the creative expressions that they are using to bring something together to manifest something in the world. That joy is present because you lose awareness of the passing of time. Joy is the feeling that arises when we are doing what is natural to us, which, is to be creative.

3. A state is Bliss. When the human spirit is free there is this feeling of blissfulness.

Happiness as a state of consciousness is our most natural state.

7 Key Toxins That Compromise Our Natural State Of Happiness & The Best Questions To Ask Yourself About What Gets In The Way Of Our Happiness

The toxins are all of beliefs and are the beliefs we absorb throughout our life and get in the way of a state of happiness

1. Happiness is something that is acquired. Acquiring the objects, the things or the person there is a little high and then followed by a low. The upper that is required when we acquire things is temporary and short-lived and is stimulated from outside in. It doesn’t come from within my own state. It’s not my own state. Those are the signals that acquiring things doesn’t make me happy.   Ask the questions: What is it that you believe that is going to make you happy when I acquire it? Make a list – be very honest. Then ask: Am I Sure? Live in the question. The answer is probably No; acquiring stuff does not make us content, joyful or blissful.

2. Happiness is an achievement. We’re driven to achieve goals before we believe we can be happy. When you achieve your goals there is a little moment, but what happens next… we are off chasing another goal. Achievement is always in the future. Happiness can only be now. This belief has us struggling and delaying our happiness. Ask the question: What do I believe I need to achieve in order to be happy? Make a list – be honest. Reflect.  Then ask: Am I sure this is what is going to make me happy?

3. Happiness equals excitement. We believe excitement equals happiness. Many of us believe we have to be excited to be happy. Excitement is what happens in the kettle when the water boils. The molecules are agitated when the kettle boils. Am I happy when I am agitated? Happiness is this contented state, this natural flow into the world. Ask the question: What is it I believe that I need that makes me excited to bring me happiness. Reflect. Make a list – Be honest.  Then ask: Am I sure?

4. Happiness is about dependency. I need someone else to be happy and create my state of happiness. I need to be depend on someone or something before I can be happy in myself. All dependency leads to all forms of addiction. Ask the question: What do I believe I need to be dependent on to make me happy? Who do I believe I need to be dependent to make me happy? Make a list – Be honest. Then ask: Am I sure? Is this true?

5. Happiness is about attachment. You cannot be happy if you’re attached to anything. Where there is attachment there must be some fear. Fear of loss or damage. The moment I become attached to anything I create some form of fear. When I am scared am I happy. When I am scared I am sabotaging my happiness.  It’s someone else making me unhappy. Ask the questions: What do I believe I need to be attached to before I can be happy? Make a list – Reflect. then ask: Am I sure?

6. Happiness is relief from pain. This is not real happiness it is just relief. I am always waiting for some relief to be happy.  Then I go searching for something to relive my pain. Ask the question: What do I believe I need to feel relief from before I am happy? Make a list – Be honest. Reflect. Then ask: Am I sure?

7. Happiness is success.  This maybe the most powerful belief. We believe we have to compete or have to win in order to be successful. I have to be successful before I can feel happy within myself. So we spend our lives chasing some kind of success, believing we can’t be happy until we are successful. Ask the question: What do I believe I need to be successful at before I can be happy? Make a list – be honest. Reflect. Then ask: Am I sure? Is that true.

The process of spiritual awareness is raising our awareness to the presence of these toxins and sabotage our state of being and content. Waking up and seeing what is sabotaging and what is making you feel miserable and unhappy.

Find out more about Mike George at:

http://www.relax7.com/