Joy Mantras

Here are the Joy Mantras for each of the paradigms listed below..these mantras help you to remember the real nature of true happiness:

1. For the Achievement Paradigm
Joy is the organic state of my soul; it is not something i have to achieve; it is something I accept.


2. For the Possession Paradigm
Joy is never in things, it is who I am


3. The Reward Paradigm
Joy is a recognition, not a reward.


4. The Destination Paradigm
The way to get to happiness is to be there already.


5. The Choice Paradigm
Joy is a way of being and not just a state of mind.


6. The Identity Paradigm
The soul is Joy!


Write down your new definition of happiness somewhere so that you can read it every day & remember what your soul already does.

Next week, "The Happiness Circle"

Blessings!

Happiness Monologue Q's

Here are the 3 questions to ask after the 10 minute Happiness Monologue:


question 1: " What is the main lesson you learned about yourself and your relationship to happiness by doing the Happiness Monologue?"


question 2: "What was the most truthful thing you said?"


question 3: " Is there anything else you wish you had said?"


Become aware about the conversation you have with your self and others about how much happiness you tell yourself is possible. 


The goal is to listen to yourself and discover what your mantra is..


Usually people have six paradigms (taken directly from Robert Holden's Book) read through to find out if you resonate with any of them..each paradigm is then followed by a little red flag in italics at the end.


1. The Achievement Paradigm: Driven by a belief that happiness is a by-product of effort, action and doing. It is something you must accomplish. 
BUT what about the happiness that is effortless and exists irrespective of your to-do list?


2. The Possession Paradigm: Key words in this paradigm are "having" "manifesting" " attracting". Happiness is considered as an external object which one has to find and keep.
BUT this paradigm encourages a 'having mode' rather than a 'being mode'.


3. The Reward Paradigm: According to this paradigm, happiness is not natural; it must be earned and deserved.  A medal you win for being good enough, for being responsible and for succeeding at something. 
BUT this reward is bestowed by whom? It's your superego which always says repeatedly you are not good enough yet!


4. The Destination paradigm: This paradigm is about "searching", "looking" or "finding" with a belief in the "pursuit of happiness". The focus is always upon the future, and the language is always about "becoming happy" rather than "being happy". Like a finishing line you will cross someday.
BUT the more you look and strive the more you overlook the possibility that it is here already!


5. The Choice Paradigm: This paradigm relates to happiness as a state of mind. People with this paradigm talk about "inner peace", they experience "joy within" and they believe that happiness is an "inside job". 
BUT what happens when you have a toothache or a period pain? Is the joy still there or does it only exist because you chose it? 


6. The Identity Paradigm:  People who experience happiness as a "way of being". In this paradigm, happiness is sometimes referred to as a 'frequency', an 'energy' or a 'harmonic'.
BUT this paradigm is too weird and big for your ego "to get". In fact it has nothing to do with your ego at all!


next week i will put up the joy mantra for each of the above paradigms which is designed for you to be more open to a greater experience of happiness now. 

Happiness Monologue

I am going to share with you over the course of the next 8-10 weeks,  little exercises that form a part of the 8 week Happiness Workshop facilitated by Robert Holden, Ph.D; author of the best selling book "Be Happy".

Robert Holden has now become synonymous with the word Happiness after he created the Happiness Project in the UK, the findings of which were broadcasted to over 5 million viewers.

So are you ready to give it a go? Hop along with me for this joy ride and discover what is on offer!!

Your very first exercise is this:

Speak on the topic of "Happiness" for 10 minutes. Do not stop, do not rehearse and if you do it with a friend, family or even your pet :)

If you decide to record your 10 minute monologue, you will get the very first glimpse of what your beliefs are about happiness.

Make a note. What does your monologue say about happiness to you??

More next week!

Blessings!

Alanis Morissette - Thank You (Video)

-Gap Maru.-

Why must I accept this???

I write this a day after my beautiful place of birth was bombed by three separate attacks by terrorists killing and maiming its citizens randomly only in order to uphold the twisted idea of patriotism and brotherhood espoused by its perpetrators.

It is the perfect time for me to question the idea of 'acceptance'. Am I to accept what happened to my city? Am I to accept it as a non-violent follower of Gandhi and his teachings of peace that brought my country to freedom from Colonialism?

I know the mind is screaming at the top of its voice, to avenge this attack. An eye for an eye. The argument veering towards righteousness using morality and justice as its excuse. They were wrong, they need to be punished. Your city was attacked and it is your moral duty to fight back and "correct" the equation.

And then, I received an email about a young Indian techie who started a helpline using twitter in the spur of the moment which grew from a list of 5 people willing to help victims to 500 in a few hours. It made me remember the power of acceptance just when I was on the brink of forgetting.

The power that flows within when we accept what is/has happened and focus on whats possible. Were we to give ourselves the gift of accepting what is more often, we would be enormously grateful for the hidden power that lies beneath. The power to transform oneself from feeling helpless and angry to feeling hopeful and calm.

There is never a good reason to avenge anything or anyone. We all live in a time when the slogan "war on terror" does not seem comic-tragic, if not highly misguided. What does it say when  one nation can declare war as its primary intention to bring about peace?? With what higher moral authority can that nation then simultaneously denounce the act of terror by another?

I pray that we all are reminded of the blessing that acceptance brings into our lives. Acceptance as the magical treasure trove within us which can light the way through our darkest hour if we are willing to believe in its promise of total transformation.

Is that really so??

A regular practice of self inquiry in some Buddhist spiritual traditions revolves around the question "is that really so??"

Seems like a fairly insipid question on the surface but when one does ask oneself, one is brought face-to-face with one's deepest held beliefs and presumptions..

So the belief, "I am not good enough.." is a good starting point.  Challenge your arguments. Ask yourself honestly where you picked up that notion? Is it really your own voice or somebody else?

Once you have committed to this question sincerely you will realise the first fluttery feelings of freedom. Freedom from self-limited thoughts and negative emotions. Closer to the truth of who you really have always been and are.

That is so!