The Happiness Index.. always keep it "way up there"!!

Happiness is such a precious state of being.. of feeling.. of emotion.. and that’s the reason why we are consciously (or subconsciously) chasing it all the time!

What does it take for us to be happy? Is it the big things like buying a new home.. a designer watch.. the latest cell phone.. or the slightly more everyday things like getting an unexpected financial windfall.. doing well in an exam.. assembling the perfect bhel.. or then..

Is it the (seemingly) little things that we take completely for granted like a peaceful night’s sleep.. the prayers that are answered and the inner voice that gives us expert guidance as we navigate our day to day lives?

I travelled recently to Bhutan and they have one of the highest “Happiness Indexes” in the world and experienced firsthand why it is so.. There is no competition or aggression.. imagine being in a country for eleven days and spending a fair amount of time on the road without hearing a single horn being honked! People are simple and straightforward.. they say what they mean and the mean what they say!

My friend lost her phone and was really panicked until our guide and driver told her “Don’t worry.. if a local person has found it you will definitely get it back”.. SO MUCH faith in their fellow countrymen! Needless to say, she did get her phone back and the shopkeeper apologized for the delay in answering our calls since he was busy with customers!

What do we need to keep our “happiness index” why up there? When you stop to think about it - actually very little.. On the surface of it.. a good meal.. close friendships.. a steady job.. and fun plans to go weekend shopping with perhaps a holiday or two every year seem like more than enough.. but is it really? My answer is a resounding NO!!

Maybe reaching the ripe old age of 60 has done it.. maybe meeting some special people who are a big part of my spiritual growth journey has done it.. maybe beginning to be able to recognize energies has done it.. maybe the wisdom of becoming a senior citizen has done it.. but I have understood that in order to be truly happy.. we need more.. much more of the things that money can’t buy!

Speaking for myself.. what I need is to be surrounded by people whose energy is positive.. who are generous with their acceptance and understanding.. who have a sense of humour that’s really funny.. some nice music.. basic homecooked food that’s prepared with love.. opportunities to travel to interesting places.. quality friendships.. inspiring conversations with deep sharing and plenty of “me time” to rest.. recharge and recalibrate!

Waking up this morning to a cloudy and grey day with pouring rain made me super happy.. the perfect weather to sit quietly and sip something hot.. to relax and “slow down”.. to not feel the need to make a “to do” list.. What is happiness made up of if not these little joys?

In conclusion.. it takes so little to make us happy that it is such a pity that in a world full of such beautiful things.. lovely places and wonderful people.. there should still be good people who are unhappy.. have tears in their eyes and pain in their hearts! So wake up.. open your eyes.. listen to your inner voice and do whatever it takes to make and keep your soul and yourself happy in the truest sense of the word!

In the immortal words of Denis Waitley “Happiness cannot be travelled to.. owned.. earned.. worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love grace and gratitude”!

P.S. Thank you for reading and please remember to leave your name at the end of your comment.