“I’m overwhelmed.” “I’m stressed.” “I’m too busy.” “I don’t have time.”
You can never have time. Time just passes. Nobody can own it, have it, or possess it. Time passes, no matter what you choose to do with it. And you—you gorgeous, loveable soul—are worth it. You are worth doing something beautiful for. You are worth getting deeply happy for. You are worth diving into your very own honeyed-up, loved-up version of the perfect day for.
You are worth it. Your happiness is worth it. Pursuing happiness isn’t trite. It’s your birthright.
Let’s put it this way, courtesy Gretchen Rubin’s book ‘The Happiness Project’:
Epicurus wrote, ‘We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed toward attaining it.’
And most of us will go for the chocolate—every time. Or the shoes, or the getaway or the gadget. It’s not that shopping is bad. It’s not that treating yourself to a lil’ something is negative. It’s just that if we depend on it for our happiness, our happiness is fleeting. As fleeting as the new-thing high we get when we eat, buy, or book it. So, failing to find lasting happiness, we keep on trying to attain it. We experience sukha: fleeting, superficial pleasure.
So get the chocolate, the shoes, the purses, the gadgets. But don’t stop there. Go deeper. Like Yogi Bhajan is always quoted as saying, “Happiness is your birthright.” Your soul is joy. Your soul is love. And your reason for being on this planet is to discover that deep joy and love—that deep happiness in your soul. This is why your happiness is worth it. This is why you get to choose how you want to spend your time. It’s your purpose, your dharma, and your reason for being on this planet. It’s your pathway to mudita—spiritual happiness—and ananda: bliss. And if anyone says otherwise?
10 Reasons Your Happiness is Worth It
– via Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project
“Contemporary research shows that happy people are
- more altruistic
- more productive
- more helpful
- more likable
- more creative
- more resilient
- more interested in others
- friendlier
- and healthier.
- Happy people make better friends, colleagues, and citizens.”
Pursuing happiness isn’t trite. It’s your birthright.
Big love,
L
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Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Lindsey Lewis, yoga teacher, life coach and founder of www.libreliving.com.
Daily Cup of Yoga 