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Friday, August 20, 2010

Happiness Wanted. Inquire Within. - an Everyday Bliss guest post

INQUIRY - a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge; study, scrutiny, exploration. [Inquiry Week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.
The fool, in “Intuitions” 
(written Oct. 1932; published in Youthful Writings, 1976) 
By Albert Camus



I am so delighted to have Michael, aka SamsaricWarrior, guest blogging for us this week. I just recently ran across his blog and began following him on twitter and have loved every calm and mindful minute. I think you will too!



Happiness Wanted. Inquire Within.

First and foremost I would like to say thank you for the wonderful invitation to be a guest blogger on this site. I am humbled. Kathy asked me to touch on the topic of 'Inquiry' and I figured what better to talk about than happiness. So many of us search for it and yet so few find it.

I think the problem with happiness is people feel that it is something they can grasp onto. Once they are happy, or at least think they are, they become attached to that feeling and don't want to let go. Then when obstacles arise and their feelings shift they become sad and long for that feeling to return, only to increase their suffering.

Happiness is an effect. It is not the cause and by constantly searching and trying to grasp we are only pushing ourselves further away from it. We think that we can find happiness by reading a book, watching a movie, listening to music, or calling a friend and asking them how to find it. Some go shopping because they feel some material object is going to bring them happiness. This type of happiness isn't 'real' and is only temporary.

Compassion is the cause. What we need to do is inquire within. We need to take the time to look within ourselves and find what is bringing on feelings of discomfort. What is making us suffer. Why do we feel unhappy. We have to question ourselves and face these answers truthfully and with an open and compassionate mind. When we can do this, we will realize that we are suffering. We are all suffering. What we next have to accept is that suffering is not personal. It affects all beings. Once we can come to face these facts then we need to face ourselves. The only changes that can be made, can only be made by us. No one can change you. They can guide you, they can suggest, but they cannot force change upon you. Willingness to change also comes from within.

Happiness feels good and is not only beneficial to ourselves but is also of great benefit to all beings. When we are happy, we radiate this happiness outward. Filling each being we cross paths with, with pure loving kindness and compassion. Fill yourself with love. Fill yourself with compassion. Make changes within that will help you help others. Be of benefit to many by choosing to come to terms with what makes you suffer and taking the steps to change. If Happiness is truly what you seek, then Inquire Within.

May we approach each and every step along our paths with loving kindness for all beings.

Metta to you.
Michael
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much Michael, and Metta to you as well! You can visit Michael on his blog and follow his shared wisdom on Twitter here.

Have you shared metta today?

For those unfamiliar with the lovely term: 
The Pali word metta is a multi-significant term meaning loving-kindness, friendliness, goodwill, benevolence, fellowship, amity, concord, inoffensiveness and non-violence.

Next Post:  Inquiring conclusions!


My 13 bliss virtues are 
joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 
romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are exploring  Inquiry. 
Next week is all about Community.

5 comments:

  1. Hello Kathy and Michael! What a great post- I love reading about happiness and I agree with you 100% on this one...happiness does come from within! Thanks for sharing. And Michael, I'm headed over to your blog right now!
    Have a great day : )

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Vanessa,
    Such kind words. Thank you.
    Hope you have a great day as well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so much, Michael! This was absolutely wonderful food for thought - and incredibly well written. I agree with it - 100%! And thank you, Kathy, for inviting such a wonderful guest writer! Theresa

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to be a temporary happiness seeker, but thankfully I have learned to be happy. Just be. It sometimes is harder to come about on certain days, but for the most part my insides are very happy and I hope that I pass it along. Love this post. I'm going to have to bookmark it.

    Kristin - The Goat
    by way of Saturday Sampling

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you everyone for your kind words. And yes, Kristen, sometimes finding happiness within is hard and very frustrating as well. I think one of the reasons for this, is because, we as people are grown to expect something in return. If we give a smile and don't get one back we tend to feel cheated. We have to be very mindful of our thoughts and actions. Be happy, expect nothing and just be. Thanks again for your kindness I am humbled. May your day be filled with love and happiness for all beings. My love and metta to you all.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you "very so much" (the construct I stole from my 3 year old!) for your comments! I reply to every comment. I will ALWAYS reply over here on the blog so if you haven't heard from directly please do check back here. If you become a Disqus member you will be automatically updated via email as well!

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© Kathy Sprinkle and Everyday Kathy, 2009-2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Everyday Kathy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues

  • 1. TEMPERANCE - Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  • 2. SILENCE - Speak not what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
  • 3. ORDER - Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
  • 4. RESOLUTION - Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
  • 5. FRUGALITY - Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.
  • 6. INDUSTRY - Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
  • 7. SINCERITY - Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.
  • 8. JUSTICE - Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
  • 9. MODERATION - Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
  • 10. CLEANLINESS - Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths or habitation.
  • 11. TRANQUILITY - Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
  • 12. CHASTITY - Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or to the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
  • 13. HUMILITY - Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

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