Stop Pursuing, Start Being

ByMatthew

On the heels of yesterday’s post, I thought this would be a good follow-on.

* * *

Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. – Guillaume Apollinaire

Happiness is really just a feeling-state.

We have different names for it: peace-of-mind, cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly, jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted, smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented, content, satisfied, gratified, buoyant, radiant, sunny, blithe, joyous, . . . .

But it’s really just a feeling; and feelings almost always come from thoughts.

So, if feelings come from thoughts, and we can choose our thoughts, then we can feel happy by choosing the right thoughts.

Take a break from the pursuit and think a carefully chosen thought.

Just be happy.

Similar Posts

  • What Courage Really Is

    ByMatthew

    Courage isn’t having the strength to go on — it is going on when you don’t have strength. – Napoleon Bonaparte Having the strength to go on is capacity. You either have it at any given moment, or you don’t. Want more capacity? Train… Whatever you’ll need when things get tough, develop greater amounts of that. Then…

  • A Virtuous Cycle of Failure

    ByMatthew

    “The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things.” – Rainer Maria Rilke If you’re not “failing” you’re likely not doing anything worthy of your efforts and talents. Consider you have two (at least… ) sacred aspects: your labor and talents. Your labor is your effort, your hard work, your doing…

  • Well-Being and Money

    ByMatthew

    My well-being is independent of my bank account balance. My sense of what is possible for me is independent of my bank account balance. My willingness to do new things and learn is independent of my bank account balance.   I was inspired to write the above while reading a book written by one of…

  • Your Thoughts Are A Thermostat

    ByMatthew

    Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go any higher than you think.” – Benjamin Disraeli I often listen to developmental audio programs in the car and my current selection is (a re-listening of) Brian Tracy’s The Psychology of Achievement. One of the key take-ways is that our self-concept matters a great deal. In particular,…