"Happiness Now" (As Seen on Oprah)

As a young child, I could say that I had a fairly good childhood.  Good stuff!

Growing up, I do hold on to my greatest hopes and dreams and asking for God's guidance that life would give me great experiences and learnings as I mature as a person. But life isn't just red roses...There were a few curb balls thrown my way, too! I had a hard time dealing with some of them however, the most important thing is that I had actually two options to choose from. I can be happy while facing and solving that challenge or be miserable throughout.

Right now, i came across a wonderful book entitled, "Happiness Now" by  Robert Holden, Ph.D. It gave me an amazing understanding about how we can really attain happiness in the now. It's funny how many of us right now are pursuing "happiness" without ever attaining it. I could only speak for myself, yes, there are times when we are in a hurry like that of that white rabbit in the movie, "Alice in the Wonderland".

We can't seem to focus and savor the moments and enjoy it by not worrying about the future. Sure, we need to think about our mortgage, debt, our kid's education, and so on and so forth however, the moment we let those anxiety take the moment of what should be a time to appreciate what's happening in real time, it robs us our real joy and happiness. While material things make us happy momentarily, it doesn't and will not substitute the deep meaning of it at all. I find that what matters most is our attitute towards life in general. The best things that constitute real happiness is when we have a great relationship with our creator, our family, friends and our self-acceptance.

 Do you remember, when you had a conversation with yourself, saying, "If only I get to work abroad, I will be happy", "If only I become a doctor, then I'll be happy", "If only I get married and have kids", and the list goes on and on. And finally, when that time happens, we got what we wanted, yet we find ourselves, still not happy, not satisfied, still wanting for more. Well, if we wait for that specific moment to come, then, we are robbing our happiness right now..I have no control with some things but I do have the right to choose to be happy now while waiting for my other dreams to come true. How about that? (;


 “One of the greatest single steps you can take to happiness now is to let go of the belief that happiness has to be deserved. You do not deserve happiness, you choose happiness. Happiness is natural. It is freely available to all. It is unconditional. And when you’re unconditional about happiness, then happiness merely happens! Happiness happens, if you let it.”

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It made me appreciate life more and focus in the now while preparing myself of what lies ahead.  I will not let the future rob me of the happiness that I am experiencing right now. We owe it to ourselves.