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I've learned the secret to a happy life!
I took the long way to get here (I am a thorough learner, lol)
I tried all the other ways first... as listed below
and none of them ever brought me lasting joy.
I finally found the secret.
I have been living it for years
but don't think I realized it until now
So are you ready to know what the secret is?
Drum Roll please
.... .... ....
We get what we give away.
Life is not about acquiring and accomplishing.
It's not about getting stuff, or receiving accolades and awards.
It's not about earning, deserving, or being worthy or unworthy.
Life is not even about being seen, heard, loved and valued.
While these things can certainly feel good... they are fleeting.
They leave us measuring our worth based on the external world of illusion
which leads to an endless void, and continual chasing for bigger, better, more!
We are inherently seen, heard, loved and valued in Spirit.
If the concept of Spirit doesn't work for you, call it your Authentic Self
or Higher Self, or your own Soul Awareness or Consciousness.
To have an experience of this, notice your breath right now.
Breathe into your belly.
Watch your belly rise and fall as you breathe.
Who is that doing the watching of this?
That is your Higher Self or Consciousness.
The Neutral Observer or Witness.
(What is breathing you is a topic for another time ;)
So knowing this, you see and hear yourself everyday, even in the quiet.
You wake each morning with opportunities to share your heart with yourself
and anyone you engage with... your neighbor, the grocery store clerk,
the insurance representative, your clients, family and friends.
Do you share wholeheartedly?
Or do you hold back, shrinking your loving and hiding your Light?
Loving, Valuing, and Being Worthy are all inside jobs.
We don't have to know 'how' to do these things.
Instead, we can know this is what we are.
You are a loving, valuable, worthy being
created by love, in love, to love.
The key qualities that make the difference in
experiencing JOY here in Earth School are:
Generosity, Compassion, Loving and Service.
These qualities are inside each of us.
They are our natural state.
I don't know who made up the lie that children were selfish and self-centered, but this has never been my experience. Children are natural givers and helpers.
It was adults that I experienced as having forgotten these qualities
(and my theory is they then project this onto children and all they see).
The happiest people I know are givers.
They are present, eager and willing to lend a hand.
They don't look for the world to fulfill their incessant whims and wishes.
They are not seeking someone to save them or to make everything better.
They are too busy loving and being a beneficial presence in life.
We can try to make others like, love, value and please us,
but I have never found it fruitful to seek for
anything outside of myself to fulfill or complete me.
The givers/helpers watch and listen.
They flip the ego script of wanting to be seen and heard.
The givers/helpers pay attention and look for ways to be of service.
They flip the ego script of wanting to be understood and catered to.
The givers/helpers honor, value and love themselves, others and life.
They flip the ego script of needing to be special, loved and valued.
They roll up their sleeves and dive into the present moment
sometimes invisibly, other times more noticeably
not to get something... but simply to give.
The JOY is in the Giving.
Give it all away.
I will die knowing I gave everything I had.
I gave my attention fully
I shared my heart openly
I expressed my creativity fluently
I shared my resources generously
I cultivated and shared my gifts abundantly
The only thing we take with us when we die is our learning and our loving.
People who are hoarding their money, their things, their gifts, their love,
their attention, etc... are miserable.
Don't be a Scrooge... or a Grinch
Not on Christmas, and not ever.
You are a beautiful, bountiful, blessed being.
If you don't have money to spare, give of your talents.
If you don't have talents (you are lying), give of your time.
If you don't have time, give your presence in simple moments.
If you don't have presence... well, you're screwed...
LOL, kidding... sort of.
Find a way to be present.
Do this by decluttering your weary heart and messy mind.
Let go of the ego story of needing to look good, be cool, rich, famous, smart... whatever silly measuring tools it uses to keep you in the lie of 'not good enough.'
Drop the ego story of acquiring, accumulating and accomplishing.
And, bring your neighbor a piece of cherry pie.
Seriously, sit together and enjoy some pie.
It can be as simple as this.
Receive your next breath.
Feel the privilege of being alive.
Whisper, "Thank You."
Feel this.
Give your heart away
First to yourself
And then to the next person you meet.
And the next... and the next...
The world is waiting for you to come ALIVE.
Dare to live the secret.
Be Joy.
Merry Everything!
Teri Jo
PS - the picture above is me at 5 years old on my way to a party :)
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