The ABCD of Happpiness

Happpiness is simple enough and yet we make it complicated. We chase it, not realizing that the more we run behind it, the further it will go away — just like a shadow. A part of the problem is that we don’t really know what happpiness is. We think happpiness is pleasure. That we will become happpy after we have lots of money in the bank, the best of homes and cars, designer clothes; after we are successful and so on. But happpiness is not found in things or places or even people. We cannot ‘become’ happpy. Happpiness is a state of being — being blissful and peaceful, cheerful and joyful, playful and positive. We just have to be happpy, in the moment, moment by moment.

As you will probably notice, I have spelled happpiness with 3 Ps. That is by intent. Happpiness is a combination of pleasure(achievement), peace (contentment and fulfilment) and purpose (Enlightenment—discovering the purpose of life: Who am I?) These 3 Ps are the 3 keys to happpiness. And unless we understand that while we can enjoy the pleasures of life, we need to go beyond to peace, which is the foundation of happpiness, and finally, we must realize the ultimate purpose of mankind—which is realizing our true self. We are not the body, mind and ego, we are the immortal Soul. Discovering the purpose of life is the doorway to eternal peace and bliss.

Something which is integral to everyday happpiness is what I call the ABCD of Happpiness, which is

A — Accept… (joyously accept everything)
B – Best… (do your best in whatever you do)
C – Complete Surrender… (live with complete surrender)
D – Divine Instrument… (live connected to God)

The ABCD formula is bound to make us happpy. Why? Because when we do not accept life as it unfolds, and continuously protest, resist, or react to events and circumstances over which we have little control, we inevitably become unhappy. Acceptance is the key. We must graciously accept whatever is happening in life, understanding that it is our Karma being settled. In fact, we should rejoice when challenges come our way, for they are not only opportunities for growth and evolution but also the payment of our Karmic debts.

Next, we must do our best. When we do our best, we experience contentment and a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing that we have given our best efforts. What more can we do? Nothing. At this point, we must surrender, not just partially, but completely, to the Divine Will, regardless of whatever comes our way. When we live as a Divine instrument, doing the Will of the Divine, we are filled with peace, bliss and joy.

Those who live by the ABCD formula will vouch for how effective it is. It has the power to eliminate misery and sorrow, helping us live each day with contentment and fulfillment, free from the worries of yesterday and the fears of tomorrow.

Authored by: AiR - Atman in Ravi