Bliss

Joy, Life 0

If we are not practiced in saying yes to life, then we can forget about bliss — we just want relief! Relief from our hectic lives, from our negative self-talk, from our perpetual fatigue. I used to think that I just had the thermostat set too low, at Relief, and that with a little more practice, I would easily move on up to Bliss. Instead, it turns out that the road to bliss and the road to relief head in completely different directions.

Relief isn’t much; it’s only an interruption of discomfort. It leads to a nice rest stop with a turnaround that plops you right back on the same road. Bliss, however, is the superhighway to the juiciness of life. As my musician friends Bev Daugherty and Garnett Hundley sing, “Live flat out, eat it all up with a spoon!” Having a high bliss tolerance means you’re willing to be pleased by life. And the better it gets, the more you can stand. In this scenario, you anticipate benevolence and are expanded by your experience. When you are consistently grateful, it’s impossible to feel like a victim; you know that no matter how well it may be disguised, you can find the blessing in whatever’s going on.

— Victoria Castle, The Trance of Scarcity, p. 140

Remembering Truth

Core Value, Joy, Life, Truth 0

To be happy, it’s good to make a point of knowing what it is in your life that helps you remember truth. What is it that helps you to love, to be real, to be free? What is it that helps you wake up from the slumber of your conditioning? As for myself, I love the sounds of laughter and friendship. I love to look at the stars, to walk in nature, to listen to the river’s song, to smell the heavenly scent of stargazer lilies, to watch a roaring fire, to feel its warmth and see its light. I love to be still, to smile, to meditate, and to pray. How about you?

— Robert Holden, PhD, Happiness Now! p. 24-25

Working Out for Good

Forgiveness, Gratitude, Growth, Healing, Joy, Letting Go, Life, Peace, Truth 0

Noticing and counting the beautiful reasons unexpected things happen for us ends the mystery. If you miss the real reasons, the benevolent reasons that coincide with kind nature, then count on depression to let you know that you missed them. Anger, frustration, and aggressive reasons can always be imagined — and what for? People who aren’t interested in seeing why everything is good get to be right. But that apparent rightness comes with disgruntlement, and often depression and separation. Depression can feel serious. So “counting the genuine ways that this unexpected event happened for me, rather than to me” isn’t a game. It’s an exercise in observing the nature of life. It’s a way of putting yourself back into reality, into the kindness of the nature of things.

— Byron Katie, I Need Your Love — Is That True?, p. 187

Maintaining Positive Energy

Joy, Letting Go, Life, Peace, Relationships 0

Negative energy can have a powerful pull on us, especially if we’re struggling to maintain positive energy and balance. It may seem that others who exude negative energy would like to pull us into the darkness with them. We do not have to go. Without judgment, we can decide it’s okay to walk away, okay to protect ourselves.

We cannot change other people. It does not help others for us to get off balance. We do not lead others into the Light by stepping into the darkness with them.

— Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go, p. 114

Enchantment Is Self-serve.

Joy, Life 0

To all of you who would like more excitement, pleasure, and satisfaction in your lives, please take note:  Enchantment is self-serve.  Opportunities abound, if you are available.…

As we have seen, it isn’t certain things that satisfy us, it is our capacity to be satisfied.  Are you satisfiable?  Notice that I’m not saying you should settle for less; rather, I’m suggesting that you develop the capacity to Receive more.  The last line of Derek Walcott’s poem “Love After Love” says it beautifully:  “Sit.  Feast on your life.”  What are you presented with that you might fully Receive in this moment, this place, this income, this age, this you, this life?  Whatever it is:  Sit.  Feast.

— Victoria Castle, The Trance of Scarcity, p. 130-132

Being Lavish

Joy, Life 0

Overindulging or acting unconsciously is quite different from being lavish.  When we are lavish, we inhabit the unconflicted realm of Yes — wholehearted and intentional enthusiasm for life. . . .  When we make strict rules for ourselves about what is allowed and how we may feel, we’re being stingy with ourselves.  That stinginess leads to frustration, suspicion, righteous anger, and, ultimately, grim resignation.  If we don’t believe we can have what we want, we unconsciously create lifestyles that assure we can’t possibly be fulfilled.

— Victoria Castle, The Trance of Scarcity, p. 125