“All that we are is mind-generated. It is the mind that leads the way. As our incessant shadow follows us, so does well-being when we speak or act with purity of mind “- Buddha, Dhammapada
Unhappiness is an emotion from which we must not escape. We all experience a state of unhappiness throughout our life and this is part of the experiences needed to evolve as human beings. We live in a world made of polarity, without the dark we could not appreciate the light, so without the sad moments we would not be able to understand how and why important it is to be happy.
Living sad moments, however, must not become a habitual tendency, rather it must help us understand what is wrong with our life to improve it. Have you ever noticed that there are people who react differently to situations while remaining cheerful, serene and proactive while others sink into frustration and apathy for every slightest difficulty? “Both happiness and unhappiness originate from thought. Our challenge is to develop thoughts that generate happiness and avoid those that cause suffering. Most of the time we feed negative thoughts without realizing what is happening, because we are kidnapped by them or because we have the feeling of not being able to do without them.”
Our every emotion and the way we choose to react to circumstances is generated by the mind, so it is essential to become aware of our thoughts and eradicate the most harmful ones that are also the most deceptive ones. But our thirst for happiness must not be superficial, illusory, otherwise
this could cause us serious damage and generate even more powerful unhappiness. If you are thirsty, drink the best water that can purify you and hydrate you deeply, do not poison your body even more with other substances. We need to start taking responsibility for our mental processes and understanding what makes us sick in order to make the changes that serve to bring us back into our natural state of well-being and happiness. While it is true that pain cannot be avoided, it is true that suffering can be avoided! Look at the words you whisper to yourself, what effect do they have on your mood? Do your thoughts feed you or do they poison you? How do you view yourself and life? Do you spend your time complaining, wriggling in that dark sea inside of you or are you swimming towards crystal clear waters to observe the endless opportunities that lurk on the bottom? Choose your answers well, this will tell you a lot about yourself, the path you are on and how to start your journey of transformation.
But how do you turn unhappiness into happiness?
“Being happy does not necessarily mean being happy, sometimes you want to laugh and joke so as not to feel that inside you want to cry” – Jim Morrison
Do not fall into the illusion that you have to wear a sad smile to believe you are happy. To transform unhappiness into the happiest gift you can give to yourself and to others, it is important to absorb every negative message, to recognize it and deal with it. You may be called upon by your unhappiness to unearth any unconscious pattern that you are unaware of. Weeding out false beliefs to rediscover that universal truth wrapped in love. Look deeply into your unconscious, become aware of it, to avoid suffering destiny and become the co-creator of your reality by making the most of all the divine potential you possess. Each of us has unique abilities and experiences, it is important to recognize their strengths, what makes us feel good and use all the qualities learned to improve our life and bring happiness to this world. If you think you can’t change a situation, you can change your emotional state and the way you deal with it.
Here are 3 effective steps to overcome suffering:
1. Change the flow of your thoughts, increase your awareness to observe things with a clear and creative mind:
Take moments to notice what is hurting you, but don’t get carried away by a loop of negativity. Observe yourself without judging yourself, with impartial eyes and emotional detachment. After listening to yourself in depth, move on to the counterattack: become aware of what would make you happy, but without pretending to get it instantly. Immerse yourself in the most beautiful fantasies, imagine yourself happy and in the end ask yourself if that happiness you have dreamed of can be authentic and lasting or if it could lead you to be dissatisfied again. How do you feel? How can you see the potential in a situation you are facing? What unconscious patterns did you unearth? And what can you do to change your course?
2. It is time for self-love: now you should be able to know quite deeply the mental patterns that have generated the suffering you are experiencing. Put them aside and dedicate yourself to yourself by creating new healthy habits, starting with your own diet! Cultivate the passions of the heart, the ones you got so excited about until you forget the passage of time, practice Yoga regularly to improve your skills in every area of your life. Recharge yourself
with positive thoughts and phrases that are functional to personal growth. Use suffering to love and love yourself more, to give yourself the time you deserve, to truly know yourself and to become more sensitive, compassionate and patient towards yourself and others. Basically we are all the same if you think that we all actually have a single thirst for love and happiness. Give happiness by lovingly caring for yourself and those around you.
3. Meditate: Experiment with different types of meditation until you find the best technique for you. There are those who meditate even while gardening, you don’t necessarily have to sit for hours trying to silence your mind. To control your mind and use its maximum potential you must learn to know it and flow with it through the meditation closest to your personal inclinations. The benefits of meditation are scientifically proven and you can have a powerful tool with you to use as often as you need and at any time. Only in this way will you be able to overcome suffering and transform it into a gift of happiness. Suffering is your chance to stop, to clean up and change what is not right, and above all to return to love
more! Remember, “Life is Beautiful Only if Lived with Love!”
Vivian Mil.
– Odaka Yoga Teacher RYT 500
Instagram: @ararisko_harmony_yoga_
