HAPPINESS, Fulfillment, Contentment

The truth is that we can CHOOSE to be happy, no matter how bad our circumstances, but I know first hand how hard that can be in the face of pain, fear and depression. But there are also things which can help nurture happiness.

Continuous pain and happiness are not very compatible, but I truly appreciate that which I have. Honestly, I face depression, anxiety, and sometimes despair, but I also work daily to control those negative emotions. I cultivate DENIAL and loose myself in books, dreams, and DA. Sometimes reality can hit like a Tsunami. Such is life. I am no saint, by far.

As my body degraded, I lost the ability to do the things I loved to do, things that helped to define who I am, one by one, over the years. But when one door closes, another opens. The trick is in recognizing the next door to open, and to have the courage to open it.

Bad days can be good for you. How would you recognize a good day or special day, if you never had bad days or mediocre days. The more bad days you have, the more you will appreciate the good one. Love is like that too, as is experiencing good and evil.

My life is so full of suffering that if I get 1 minute of feeling good, I appreciate it fully and am grateful for it, like finding a diamond in the muck.

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Many people tie up their lives in pursuit of WEALTH, POWER, CONTROL OVER OTHERS, FAME, RECOGNITION, CAREER, LOVE, and SEX. Sometimes we loose contact with what is really important in life, as opposed to the massive amount of Detail we are constantly surrounded by and inundated with.

As my body and mind have degenerated, I have had to keep prioritizing things out of my life. There is no room for the thousands of things that distract people from truly living.

In this process, I discovered the six most important things that will bring some measure of love, happiness, fulfillment, contentment and perhaps a bit of serenity into my life.

THE KEYS TO HAPPINESS, FULFILLMENT & CONTENTMENT

First is to nurture your connections with people, particularly with the people you care about the most.

Second, is to manifest some sort of creativity into your life.

Third, is to feel as if I you are part of something, or feeling a sense of purpose or belonging.

Fourth, is to give-of-yourself to the benefit of those in need (like volunteer work).

Fifth, is to treat yourself and others with COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, RESPECT, HONESTY, FAIRNESS, TOLERANCE, and TRUSTWORTHINESS.

Sixth, is FORGIVENESS, to ERASE HATE, Prolonged Anger, Vengeance, and Retribution from your life.

Seventh, is to take nothing for granted, and try to get the most enjoyment out of life that you can, while you are most able to do so.




POSITIVE CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE

- Notice and focus on what you Love about your life, more than what you hate about your life.

- Notice and focus on what you Love about yourself, more than what you hate about yourself.

- Notice and focus on what you Love about people, more than what you hate about people.

- Notice and focus on what you have, more than what you do not have.


Matthew


© Matthew Barry 1988, 1992, 2004, 2008, 2009 All Rights Reserved.