Why You Can't Be Happy for Long
Begin Your Day with a Dose of Clarity
Under Dog Jones the Rescue Mutt never thinks about being happy. He is content.
Daily Dose of Clarity
"He who is not contented with what he has would not be contented with what he would like to have." — Socrates
Daily Reflection
Good morning from Scottsdale, Arizona. Today, think about the ageless wisdom of Socrates and those who know that seeking happiness is akin to chasing the wind.
What would it take for you to let go of the need to be happy when you get what you think you want next?
Consider how many times you’ve wanted something, only to find that once you had it, the excitement quickly faded.
Why does this cycle of wanting and acquiring leave us empty and always searching for the next thing?
This is to teach us how to let go of the need to be happy. It’s a delusion. The key to breaking this cycle begins with letting go of the need to be happy.
Instead, seek contentment, let go of chasing happiness, and practice being content.
Wanting anything you don’t have implies you don’t have it. When you stop wanting, needing, and attaching to a future outcome, you can fall in love with living in contentment.
Contentment is one of the most potent drugs in the world. It’s so magical that when a recovering alcoholic or drug addict finds contentment, they no longer need the drug of their choice.
We all have drugs of choice, but most of us don’t know it. We stay attached to food, booze, harmful drugs, the Boob Tube, the approval of others, and other toxic waste.
Before we learn to let go of our shallow, selfish pity party, we say things to ourselves like, “I’m bored. I’m not rich enough. I’m not sexy. I’m not good enough. I need a new car or more stuff I don’t need and can’t afford, like what happened in the movie Fight Club.”
We must learn to cultivate contentment in our minds.
Contentment means appreciating what you already have. It’s about finding joy in the present moment and being grateful for the small things in life.
Being content doesn’t mean you can’t have goals or dreams, but it means finding a balance between striving for better and appreciating what is already good.
Contentment means finding joy and love in being who you are, living in wonder, and accepting everything you are attracted to teach you more lessons in the school of life.
In other words, enjoy the process of being alive today. Chop your wood and carry water with a smile.
You'll always have what you want when you are entirely grateful for all you’ve got.
Daily Commitment
How will you practice contentment today?
Grab your journal or whatever you use to think your way through life. Make a few notes about applying the daily dose of clarity.
Let it be a super day no matter what happens.