According to Barbara, Life is a Gift and Happiness is Our true nature, something we are. Happiness is the state of being itself. Life! Existence, something we did nothing for and which we simply are. But the only thing we can experience is our own thoughts – the thoughts in our minds – that is what our life is. So if we are not Happy now, if we are not experiencing the happiness which is our true nature, there is only one thing that can be preventing us from experiencing this happiness – and that is our thinking, i.e. the thoughts in our mind.
This is a pretty radical way of looking at life, since most of us believe that Our Happiness depends on a wide range of outer circumstances . According to Barbara, the list of outer circumstances and things that Our Happiness depends on is endless. “No wonder we are Unhappy. No wonder we feel that Happiness is so illusive!” she says. “We’ve got it all wrong – backwards – because we don’t understand the nature of mind. Nothing in the outer world can make us Happy or Unhappy because the only thing we can experience is our own THINKING. And this radical understanding is the key to living a Happy Life.”
Here is Barbara’s reminder list – 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life
No. 1:
Accept what is
The number 1 cause of suffering and unhappiness is wanting life to be something it’s not.
No. 2:
Want what you have
The number 2 cause of suffering and unhappiness is wanting what you don’t have.
No. 3:
Be Honest with Yourself
The number 3 cause of suffering and unhappiness is not communicating honestly with yourself.
No. 4:
Investigate YOUR Stories
The number 4 cause of suffering and unhappiness are the scary stories you tell yourself about life and the world.
No. 5:
Mind Your own business
The number 5 cause of suffering and unhappiness is minding other people’s business.
No. 6:
Follow Your passion and accept the consequences
The number 6 cause of suffering and Unhappiness is not doing what you want because you think people will disapprove.
No. 7:
Do the right thing and accept the consequences
The number 7 cause of suffering and unhappiness is not doing the right thing because you’re afraid of the consequences.
No. 8:
Deal with what is in front of you and forget the rest
The number 8 cause of suffering and Unhappiness is shadowboxing with illusions instead of dealing with the reality in front of you.
No. 9:
Know what is what
The number 9 cause of suffering and Unhappiness is wanting absolute satisfaction from relative experiences.
No. 10:
Learn to see beyond impermanence
The number 10 cause of suffering and Unhappiness is believing we become nothing.
Source : http://beamteam.com/en/tim/happy_article.html
