You Can Be Happy No Matter What by Richard Carlson

Author:Richard Carlson [Carlson, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: New World Library
Published: 2008-09-28T18:30:00+00:00

This short exercise can remind you of how powerful your thinking really is. Your thoughts can take you, virtually instantly, from a state of calm in the present moment, into a state of turmoil — without any actual changes taking place. The solution to this mental sabotage is to become aware and conscious of your mind spinning forward toward problems, deadlines, and issues — or backward toward reliving old wounds or frustrations. You need not pretend that the issues aren't or weren't there — you only need to be aware when your thinking is engaged in this mental dynamic. Simply become aware. You can then remind yourself to guide your thoughts back to the present when they are too caught up in problems. After a while, you'll begin to sense that most of life — that which exists outside this moment — is simply a part of your imagination and thinking. Learning to live in the moment is sort of like getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time. All of a sudden, you're in charge of where the vehicle will take you. As you become more proficient at living in the moment, you'll be able to decide, moment to moment, what your experience of life will be.

Pay attention to your feelings. They are there to help you; they are your friend. When you feel off , take notice. Gently observe your thinking. Where is it? If your thoughts aren't in the here and now, rather than being hard on yourself, or getting too much into the details of your thinking (analysis paralysis!), simply direct your attention back to the moment. Don't allow your thoughts to pull you away from happiness.

By now, you're undoubtedly seeing the interconnectedness of all five principles. They weave together like a beautiful tapestry to explain the mental dynamics of happiness. An understanding of moods, for example, plays a critical role in learning to live in the moment. One of the key reasons people find it so difficult to remain in the present moment is that they don't understand the power of their own moods, or how to respond when they are low. As I alluded to earlier, if you believe what you think when you are low, you will become too frightened or bothered to remain in the present moment. Low moods always produce negative, insecure thinking. In your low moods, you will feel an urgent need to get away from how you are feeling. I suggested the best way to deal with low moods is to distrust and ignore your thoughts — put them on hold — until you feel better. This is not denial. If you have a legitimate issue to face when you're feeling low, it will certainly still be there when you're feeling better. But you will be far better equipped to deal with it. Life will always seem easier with your wisdom in hand. Your life (and everyone else's) will always seem serious, urgent, and full of problems when you are feeling low.

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