Spiritual Practices

Joy/Happiness

Spiritual Practice: Joy is the natural state of the soul—always changing, always delightful, always new. Joy is our divine birthright. Meditate morning and evening and at the end of meditation, mentally repeat the word “joy, joy, joy" or “I am joy"—slowly, with a slight smile on your face. Then stop repeating and feel that joy which is your true nature.

Spiritual Practice: Watch your thoughts and see how they affect your happiness. Are you focusing on what you don't like and what you don't want? Or are you thinking about what you like and what you do want? Do you look for the good in people and circumstances, or do you look for the bad or what's wrong? Are you grateful for what you have, or complaining about what you don't have? Do you look at your negative qualities and ignore your positive ones, or do you acknowledge your good characteristics? Your thoughts have a lot to do with how much happiness you feel in life. When you find yourself dwelling on the negative, put your mind on something positive. You don't have to make something up. The positive is there if you choose to look for it. Shift your consciousness from negative thoughts to positive ones if you want to be happier.

Spiritual Practice: When you see what your predominant thoughts are—whether happiness-producing or not—see if you can identify beliefs based on those habitual thoughts. Beliefs about ourselves and the world are often well-established by the time we reach adulthood. Write down these old beliefs and see which ones no longer serve you. Write down what is true now, especially that which needs to be etched in your subconscious mind. Instill these new beliefs by practicing affirmations repeatedly and regularly, and watch your happiness increase.

Spiritual Practice: Start the day with gratitude for your blessings, and visualize what you want to accomplish that day, week, or month. See the accomplishments as an established fact. Be happy in their manifestation.

Spiritual Practice: If you're often unhappy, consider the possibility that you want to be unhappy. Ask yourself: Does unhappiness serve me in some way? What do I get out of it? Do I have subconscious “reasons" for remaining unhappy? What are the risks of remaining unhappy? Keep on with your introspection and ask: What beliefs do I have to give up in order to be happy? What are the risks of becoming happy? (Consider the possibility that if there were no risks to being happy, you would already be happy.) Get to the root of it and you might see that your unhappiness doesn't serve you anymore.

Spiritual Practice: When you're stuck in unhappiness, try thinking of others. Do something for someone else, particularly someone less fortunate than you. In thinking of others and doing for others, you tend to forget about yourself and your own troubles. And if you can see the joy and appreciation of others resulting from your acts of kindness, it will help you feel joy.