WEEKEND ENGAGEMENT 260/ Happiness begins at home

Happiness is such a personal thing. I know that what makes me very happy maybe someone else is indifferent. I have also learned that happiness and fulfillment is not a place you get to or things you get. I had to live with suffering for many years and walk many paths to understand that happiness or fulfillment is a state that you reach inside you, a way of thinking, of being in the world and then, as a consequence, you can achieve things outside that give you a wellbeing, a lasting happiness. When there is no peace inside, when there is no well-being inside, no matter what you achieve outside, you do not appreciate it, you do not value it, you do not enjoy it.

After several weeks without leaving texts here in the community, I am pleased to join you again. Not only I moved, which is already complicated, but I moved country and continent, to be with my beloved Daniel. Carrying almost 60 years of life in a suitcase is complicated, because human beings tend to have attachments. We get attached to people, objects, places. But in the end you realize that it's okay to let things go, that when you lose things, others come along. This week I want to share with you the following topic, which I think is an excellent reflection on the moment I am living. Join me.

One of the essential things to feel happy, fulfilled, in a lasting way, is to know oneself. This is not a truism. Knowing yourself is very important, but you have to do it in an honest way. You need to know what makes you happy, what you like, what can make your life meaningful, what you are good at; but also what your weaknesses are, what part of you limits you, what part of you leads you to do stupid things that hurt yourself and other people. And also love that part of you, recognize it, improve it. When you do not recognize your shadow, your stupid part, you usually feel unhappy and make those around you unhappy.

When you have a purpose, a motivation, and you give yourself to that purpose, your life may have ups and downs, difficulties may arise, but you stand firm, you do not lose confidence in yourself or in those around you, because you are doing what you like, what motivates you; and generally, besides feeling good, you help other people also feel good, feel motivated, you help the welfare and happiness of other people and that also makes you feel good, makes your life meaningful. But if you don't trust yourself, if you are not clear about your strengths and your purpose in life, when faced with difficulties you feel that you are defeated, that it is the end of the world. From a very young age I knew that my path is linked to books, to writing, to literature and to teaching others what I know, and that has made me very happy.

Human beings have a tendency not to accept situations and people as they are. But people and situations do not have to adapt to our purposes or desires. This often makes us unhappy. Even those people who love us should not be asked to change to make us happy. I believe that the personality, the character of a person is very difficult to change. So are situations that we don't like, that we don't agree with, that cannot be changed. So what is the point of getting angry or sad? Every day, after meditating, I am grateful for all the good things in my life and for the patience and wisdom to accept what I cannot change. The challenges, the difficulties, are what help us grow. It took me many years to understand this. As I wrote at the beginning of these lines, I think that happiness, fulfillment, a meaningful life, is linked to the way we live, the way we feel inwardly about what happens to us, it has nothing to do with people or situations that change continuously, that can be and then not be. What do you think? Thank you for reading.