It’s been almost 7 weeks since we wished each other a “Happy” New Year. We all made resolutions; we all spent too much money, and most of us are still waiting for the “Happy” part to take effect.
With a renewed vigour and a sense of purpose, we take steps to improve our health and prosperity. We love to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start. Everywhere we turn, there are images and articles that tell us how to achieve our goals. Talk shows focus on fashion and self improvement. Decorating shows tell us how to renovate our homes. There is one series that helps people get out of debt and live within their means. Another popular show perpetuates the myth that true love can be found after a few dates and a few roses.
We assume that happiness will be ours if we just listen to all the advice and follow all the rules. Wrong! All that advice only serves to increase our anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. The media encourages us to be consumers and our entire economy is dependent on it. Imagine the enormous repercussions if we all just said “No”.
Eastern religions seem to have it right. Nirvana is that mystical state of mind where you are at one with the universe. You are completely content. According to the experts, you can enter that state of consciousness by simply turning your thoughts inward, clearing your mind and taking deep breaths. Once we focus on our breath, we get in touch with our inner selves and are drawn into that peaceful realm. We learn to relax. We let go of all the noise and nonsense our society inflicts upon us.
Everyone has heard the phrase “ignorance is bliss”. However, in this information age, ignorance and bliss are increasingly difficult to maintain. Google has all the answers. With a few clicks of the mouse we have instant access to a million or more topics. My Encyclopedia Britannica is nothing but a relic from the past. I still enjoy browsing through those treasured volumes but the facts are largely outdated. The maps are increasingly inaccurate as countries reinvent themselves and political borders change.
There is no greater confusion than the diet industry. I have more diet books than the local library. Each one promises results. There is the Low Fat, the Low Carb, the Low Glycemic, the Points Plus System, The Cave Man Diet, the Vegetarian and many others. How can a society so focused on weight loss be so overweight?
I have more exercise equipment than the local gym, but lack the motivation to use it consistently. I keep waiting for the mood to strike, somewhere between dinner and bedtime, but the lure of the Shopping Channel and the Showstopper gets in the way.
The monks who practice meditation are rarely overweight, in spite of their sedentary lifestyle. They don’t fret over their diet or lack of motivation. They don’t berate themselves for wearing last year’s robes. They have found peace and joy in the simplest things. I envy them to a point.
However, I’ve come to realize that moderation in all things is the answer. It’s not practical for us to live our lives meditating on a mountain top in the lotus position. But we can find a few minutes for some quiet time every day. And we can take small steps to fitness by just being mindful of our daily activities and move more. We can make healthy choices to improve our diet.
I have discovered that happiness, that elusive state of well-being, is just a thought away. Make a solid decision to be happy and you will achieve it, regardless of your circumstances. Your own version of Nirvana is there within you, waiting to be discovered. It has always been there.
Namaste!
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