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When I was given this topic as an assignment, I thought it would be easier to write. Then I started asking myself questions like -"What is happiness, really? Is it contentment? Satisfaction? Must it have a smile attached? Is it laughter-inducing? Is it more than feeling at peace? Is it like happy-happy-joy-joy? What about things that are not happy?
Then I started investigating. Did you know that we have departments at universities investigating happiness? There is even a World Database of research studies about happiness, which also publishes the Journal of Happiness Studies.
The definition of happiness that I finally liked best is "the subjective enjoyment of life."
However happiness is defined, lots of people are studying it and chasing after it. Songs are even written about the pursuit. In 1988 Bobby McFerrin even won a Grammy for his song, Don't Worry, Be Happy". This pursuit is so important to us, that in our Declaration of Independence, we uniquely declare the "pursuit of happiness" as "an inalienable right."
What keeps any of us from this happy state? Do we have roadblocks that should be removed? Or, should we leave a few in place? Is it even possible to be happy all the time? Does my asking that point to an ethical construct or to my own roadblock?
The best I can do in this puzzle is to upend my thoughts onto the screen and let you be the judge.
First, I think that in America and the west we focus on our own happiness too much, before the happiness of others. In the background of my mind as I write this, I cannot help think about places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur. There are places in the world where the question of the day is not about how to be happy. It is how to stay alive.
Second, I think happiness IS important. We should take joy where we can. We should see good things where they are. And I believe there is not nearly enough laughter in the world.
So, that leads me to say that I think it isn't possible to be happy all the time. And that I think we need to worry some more about the happiness of others than we do.
That having been said -- let's look together at removing roadblocks where we CAN for the happiness we should be finding in our lives -- for that happiness that should be inspiring gratitude and joy.
We all have them -- roadblocks to full happiness. A roadblock can come in all sizes and shapes and levels of consciousness.
Surfacing roadblocks is not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes we have hidden messages that get tucked away into the dark corners of our subconscious. They wait there, filing their nails and whistling softly until we are about to make a specific gesture or move that will change our lives for the better. Then *poof* they zoom out, erect a roadblock and *poof* go back into hiding. OK that sounds like science fiction, but that is really how it can feel.
I propose a simple meditation that can help. Get quiet and comfortable. Relax. Now imagine that you are standing at the beginning of a road. At the end of that road is something wonderful, shining in a welcoming way. It is something that would make you happy. Your life would be fuller with this thing or event or state of being. You will see one "happiness" at a time. Identify the first one and write it down. Your goal will be to journey smoothly toward it, coming as close as you can. Imagine yourself walking down the road toward it, and listen to any negative voices in your head as you say, " [describe the happiness here] is mine." The voices are the roadblocks. Write them down. Do this again for any "happiness" that comes up.
Perhaps on your list are roadblocks over which you think you have no control. Maybe "World peace" is one of them. Can you do it alone? No. Would it make you happy? Yes. Maybe you can do something about it. Think what might get you closer. A big part of happiness-loss is when we fail to move in the general direction of happiness.
If you cannot think of anything that would help you past a given roadblock, set it gently aside and ask the Universe at large, or God as you understand God to help you handle this. Then release it for
