Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- Mahatma Gandhi
In lieu of working on last weeks assignment which has been quite difficult for me and thus causing me some distress and possible unhappiness due to the fact that I don’t have the skills required to tackle the problem… I would like to discuss the readings/videos and other things that relate to the idea of Happiness. Lately I have been reading a book on macrobiotic food. A part of me has sought out this book which was given to me by a friend some time ago. As life has it, I do notice a difference in my lifestyle, when school is in session or I am working long hours. Truth is, that decisions pertaining to health, are often overlooked in preference to getting things done. But there is a problem with this way of thinking and acting. Our body needs nurturing. This has long term effects on our psyche and vice versa. I think a deterioration of the body eats away at the mind and this in turn effects ones state of mind/mood. Food and your mood are interconnected. When you talk to your body you nurture it. When you eat well and balanced, your body is getting the nutrients it needs to fulfill task, etc. I often think that people who believe in God are happier because they take time out to talk, to go over the ins and outs of their lives. This time spent on ones doing and goings is self reflective and provides us with a kind of clarity.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow describes that people are most happy when they are in a state of flow – a state of concentration/focus. In a contemporary sense of the word it is called being in the groove. This state that we sometimes find ourselves in, often goes unnoticed. At which point do you get in the groove and out of it? Happiness as a word is overused or rather it is not as deep as flow. We can experience happiness while resting in the warm light of the sun at noon or spending time with a loved one. However happiness that comes with flow is of our own making and it indicates an increasing complexity and growth in our consciousness. Flow occurs when a person’s full set of skills are involved overcoming the challenges. Flow occurs when someone is doing their favorite activity. Can the happiness of flow go unnoticed? If not can knowing the actual causes of it help you pursue your happiness more closely. That would be nice wouldn’t it? I think, and perhaps this is the pessimist in me, that despite possibly knowing the causes, that there are too many external forces that interrupt finding/pinning down your flow. Be it health or responsibilities. I don’t think knowing it will increase its availability because I think it just happens. Once you attempt to follow it your consciousness can be so focussed on obtaining that state of mind that it is not quite yet focused?
“Act always as if the future of the Universe depended on what you did, while laughing at yourself for thinking that whatever you do makes any difference.”
-Buddhist Writings
How does one live a meaningful happy life? One just does. When you question it you are out of it. But I do think that health, external environmental issues do affect it. How much time we decide to dedicate to these other issues however can determine or lead us to flow.
