How to be Happy Every day Every moment

BW Online Bureau Jul 05, 2018

By Swami Anand Kul Bhushan

Travelling from village to village, a Sufi wanderer was passing through a jungle. As it became dark and the next village was far away, he decided to spend the night on a riverside. During the night, it began to rain; soon it became a torrent followed by a thunderstorm and strong winds. Shivering and covered with leaves and twigs, he shivered through the night.

Thinking of a cozy cottage and a hot cup of tea, he looked up at the first feeble ray of sun and said, “Oh my Master, why have you made me suffer so much? Why can’t you show me some kindness?”

Then he gazed at the river and saw it had turned into gold! The first rays of the sun had transformed the rushing river into a sheet of shimmering gold. He then saw the trees, fresh and dancing in the breeze; heard the birds chirping and singing; gazed at the flowers in all their glorious colours. Suddenly he shuddered at what he had uttered and hastily fell on his knees and pleaded, “Forgive me, oh my Master; you have already blessed me with so much which I could not see.”

This story applies to almost all of us. We overlook what we have but keep on asking for more and what we do not have. Waking up every morning, what are our first thoughts? Most likely complaints about how badly we slept, why we have to get up so soon, why we have less energy and all the problems at home and at work. All this puts us in a bad mood before we do anything.

Try a different approach first thing every morning. Get up and go out on the balcony or the window to greet the sun and then starting thanking sun that is existence and the source of life for what you are blessed with. Start with life itself, the most precious gift to you by existence that can be taken away any time without notice. Then your gratitude for love in your life; love from your parents, spouse, children, relatives, friends and colleagues. Love makes your life worth living.

Now list all the other blessings you enjoy. As the list gets longer as you do practice every day, you are surprised at all these wonderful blessings. And when you do it every day, without fail, it provides a positive and happy start for the day that remains throughout the day.

Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where to find it. Our happiness lies in the blessings we already have. Remember them every morning and you will exude, share and vibrate with happiness and energise others without saying a word. Happiness will not come from your desires, demands and duties. IT will come if you are thankful for all you already have. Create your own happiness every morning.

Osho talks about a Sufi mystic who had always remained happy was asked…. For seventy years people had watched him, he had never been found sad. One day they asked him, ‘What is the secret of your happiness?’ He said, ‘There is no secret. Every morning when I wake up, I meditate for five minutes and I say to myself, ‘Listen, now there are two possibilities: you can be miserable, or you can be blissful. Choose.’ And I always choose to be blissful.’