The Way to Happiness

We often ask ourselves, what is the way to happiness?

I think that happiness is a process, not a destination, and I am reminded of this Zen Buddhist quote:

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

He goes on to say that “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
There is no way to enlightenment. Enlightenment is the way.”

For me, happiness is a journey, not a destination.  Just as keeping fit requires regular exercise, so keeping happy requires taking regular action that supports our being happy.

The way to happiness then, is to do things that create it, things that make you feel happy in the moment as well as in the long-term. Some of the things mentioned in my previous blog-posts perhaps.

There is also the thought that we should act now, rather than waiting.  I recently found the following poem on the internet.  No author was listed, so, if anyone can tell me who wrote it I would be grateful.  I shall leave you with their words:

There is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way.
So, treasure every moment that you have.
And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special.

And remember that time waits for no one.
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school,
Until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds,
Until you have kids, until your kids leave the house,
Until you start work, Until you retire,
Until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night,
Until Saturday morning, until you get a new car or home,
Until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer ,
Until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth,

Until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink,
Until you’ve sobered up, until you die, until you are born again,
To decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy
Happiness is a journey, not a destination

Work like you don’t need the money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
And dance like no one’s watching.

Over to you: tell me what you think – share your thoughts on happiness – it’s great to hear your experiences, and I feature some of them in my newsletters.

Leave a comment here, or email me: Mary@Coach-me-Happy.co.uk

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