Arouse your inner power to be happy

If somebody questions you whether you are happy in your life, you will be little puzzled to reply, if you are not happy. After some time, you will like to know from him,” how can I be happy?”  If you have the slightest idea of this subject, no one can reply in an affirmative tone.  Further, if someone asks you that do you have the power to create happiness?  Again, your answer will be wish-washy.  What one thing we all have that if we choose to be happy, and remain firm to be happy come whatsoever it may be, needless to say, we will be happy, and it is not only my conviction but belief. But in reality, it does not happen easily; the reason is simple that we don’t want to arouse the inner power to ensure our happiness.  You cannot create happiness, but you can be happy even in your distress provided you have that much willpower. We all want to be happy underneath the pursuit of pleasures, wealth and powers.  Then, why we become gloomy most of the time as if we have to wait to be happy. Metaphorically, it seems that happiness is to knock the door to make an entry in our life. Our mind always plays on duality. This duality only creates conflicts, anxieties, apprehensions, and we provoke our mind to think on the negativity. Based on these negativity, we make a distance from our happiness and instead of choosing to be happy; we simply do the opposite forcing happiness to leave us.

The feeling of worldly happiness is like a desert mirage, and when we try to be nearer, it disappears.  It is not advisable to search happiness from outside because external environment though has a bearing on you, but it is you, who has to decide to be happy or not.  People, who are believers of perpetual happiness, search the same wholeheartedly within their inner-self.  We get the blessings of God, and can recognize the true joy within ourselves only. We must have enough courage and strength to choose the same. If you question, “Why you need to meditate?” The answer will be by doing meditation; you can learn and choose consciously the power to make yourself happy. Most of the people argue that even without meditation, we can decide to choose what is suitable for us?  Contrarily, there are people who believe practicing meditation religiously is a real path to being happy. When you are happy, your mind is also calm, and you take most of the decisions correctly. Just by showing a reaction to any situation is not a conscious choice. It is known as an impulsive thought process. Many of us live as a puppet, under an illusion that they are calling the tune of their lives, but in reality, their lives are governed by various desires, habits and Karmic compulsions. They don’t have much control over these attributes. They only follow these norms either because of external pressure or lack of choice and freedom.

Have you noticed how quickly people get agitated over frivolous issues? Or why do you get angry so quickly based on certain emotional impulses due to unwanted comments of other people? Why do you choose to act in that way?  How can you take a decision on behalf of your company, institution or even social organization when you cannot control yourself? People, who can control their “ego-self,” can act freely without taking much stress.  A yogic person takes all types of decisions related mostly to spiritual things with conscious awareness, but not from subconscious inclinations. Yogananda says, “Circumstances are always neutral, it is how you react to them that make them seen either happy or sad.”  When you act consciously, life responds to all your signals properly. But when you react to various things emotionally; life gets out of your control many times.  That is why yoga plays a vital role. Through this practice, you can act in joy rather than reacting in anger or sorrow.  This practice will always guide you properly, and you will show a neutral response to your anger, sorrow, love and hate; you will find that your life changes, and take a positive swing.  Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda, said, “On a fundamental level, we have only two choices in life, to move towards the light or to move away from it.”   We have these choices in front of us all the time during our act for various purposes.  If we desire to be successful as human beings, we must increase our willpower, and we must discriminate wisely to choose the light.  Otherwise, we will be swirled in worldly affairs continuously in the life. Why should you wait to be happy?  Choose it at this moment and that too instantly, and for that matter if you need to perform, discharge all your duties, and show love and kindness to all persons you come across, do it.

 No one can say what could be a quick-fix solution to be happy all the time, but you may try to conduct this small practice. Each morning after you wake up, start the day repeating this affirmation, “I vow from today onwards to be happy under every circumstance.  I came for God’s joy.  I am a joy.”  See the difference after a few months provided you utter this sentence with full devotion and remembering God. Happiness can never delude you.