It's not often we take the opportunity to praise fellow writers, but these three quotes I found in the one location; a discovery like gold. Enjoy them with me, and the thoughts that go with them:
"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed." -Storm Jameson.[1]
Five things, according to Jameson, are required to feel lasting and authentic happiness. And these cascade. When we feel deeply without fear, courage has taught us there's really nothing to fear; being one with our feelings is to be truly "us."
To enjoy simply is to keep things simple--there's far too much complexity in our lives these days. The simplest people are happiest. To be able to feel deeply and enjoy simply means to be able to think freely, reconciled to life on life's terms. Guilt doesn't run our bus.
To risk life is the key to success because how many of us lag behind in life because of fear of things that will probably never happen--and what if they did? Big deal! To be able to risk, we need to feel deeply, enjoy simply and think freely.
Finally, the more functional we get in life i.e. from doing the first four, the more we find we are needed. And this is self-sustaining. In fact, taken too far 'being needed' can be burdensome, but not if we have the first four underpinning and balancing our lives.
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." -Mahatma Gandhi.[2]
What a contribution Gandhi's made. He describes in this quote, alignment and congruence, authenticity no less.
This quote reminds me of Rotary's Four-way Test for the things they think, say and do. This is: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Every thought, decision and action is to pass through these four questions. If it fails one of these then they don't proceed.
Happiness is achieved when we become true to ourselves and there's nothing to hide. There's no cognitive dissonance.
"What if you began to expect the best from any situation? Isn't it possible that you could write new chapters in your life with happy endings? Suspend your disbelief? Take a leap of faith? After all, what have you got to lose but misery and lack?" -Sarah Ban Breathnach.[3]
When we're open to the possibilities, it's amazing what we'd otherwise miss out on. Even if we suspended our doubting genuinely for one month and lived by faith, there is little we'd lose--and how much we'd gain?
We must do this today and waste no more time!
Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
[1], [2], [3] sourced from Ruth Hegarty, EzineArticles author.
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