Happiness? Is it more than just a thought? Can we think ourselves happy?
By emptychair
@innertalks (23742)
Australia
January 27, 2023 3:40am CST
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
Mahatma Gandhi, (1869 to 1948), the great Indian Political figure, and civil rights activist, said this.
When I read this quote tonight, it inspired me to write this short poem, as I didn't really agree with him, as to me happiness, is more a quality of us, that we just have to own, and we can do this by loving others, and ourselves, from our hearts, not by just trying to think ourselves happy.
Poetry: Happiness is more than just a thought to be happy
We are born happy,
but then throw it away.
Do not try to be happy,
just be happily happy.
The difference is subtle
Trying with your mind,
creates tension of a kind.
Just allow happiness to be.
Happiness is innate.
It does not depend on ourselves.
It flows from our essence,
like a fresh mountain stream.
Happiness is not a thought,
yet a thought allows it to be itself.
Stop blocking happiness,
with your own mind out of place.
Happiness is more than just a thought to be happy. It is the love in your heart, loving.
What do you think? Is Gandhi right, or is the sentiment expressed in my poem more right?
He did not say that we can think ourselves happy, though.
He just made a statement, that just might be true too, and so we might both be right here about happiness. Harmony in living does help us to stay happy too.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
4 people like this
3 responses
@ifa225 (14468)
• Indonesia
27 Jan 23
@innertalks you are welcome, sometimes I think happiness is an absurd thing
2 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
27 Jan 23
@ifa225 l think it is a bit overrated.
I would rather be a kind, honest, compassionate person, than a happy person.
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
28 Jan 23
Yes, happiness is joy, and love, to me too.
To others, it is whatever makes them happy.
When, work fulfillment, or a hobby makes us happy, l see that as being alright too, but l prefer to be happy from the energy of love working in me behind it.
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
27 Jan 23
Happiness has many ramifications.
And the path to it depends on the individual too.
I find a few rich immersing themselves in money-making as an end by itself.
They know they will leave empty-handed but still, they find happiness in the act of hoarding wealth.
They do not want to take their eyes off the ball as long as they are fixated on wealth.
They will feel love by itself does not hold water as money, and plenty of it, is a necessary ingredient to find happiness.
Gandhi might have meant the way to find the perfect balance in our thoughts and deeds so that we are not derailed on the path toward happiness.
As for myself, when I become disturbed I go to the root of the matter and soon conclude - that is not the end of the world. Do my best and accept the results which might serve me better than what I had aimed for.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
28 Jan 23
Is there a path to happiness though, or is it more, as my poem says, there is only a path away from happiness?
Most babies look happy enough, and so, I would say that happiness is more a God-given attribute of our hearts, minds, and bodies, and all we need really do is to embrace this part of ourselves, own it, and live from it.
We are all on this train of happiness, and if we get off of God's train, to station ourselves for a while instead of pursuing his journey, and path, for our lives, that then affects our true happiness too, which innately only springs forth from us, when we are following God's will for our lives.
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
28 Jan 23
@innertalks We have many a distraction, and wrong turns, and we can easily get lost in them. Despite our best efforts, we do get carried away by the material glitter and discordant notes to move away from our innate embrace of our creator.
I feel babies can be molded into who they will become though few think some are born otherwise and not possible for us to change their innate inclinations towards non-love.
So I believe constant reminder and course corrections are needed for us to stay the course.
I keep wondering how life would have been if all were overflowing with love, in a positive way to compete to live and exude love.
However, most retort - keep dreaming, we are beyond repair. That, sadly, gets ingrained in our future generations and they move away from love to survive the harsh realities we have created.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
28 Jan 23
@Shiva49 Perhaps, God allows us to wallow in the mud of our minds, so that when we see the purity of love, we will really learn more the differences, between love and hate, and so consciously choose to love others as a result of our experiences.
The trouble with the world is that it likes mud, and it uses it for so-called beauty treatments, which just muddies up the waters of love more, and more.
We should put love first, and the rest will then take care of itself.
The harsh realities are always made worse by our mud-slinging at others around us.
