The Happy Map.
Want to find true happiness? It’s inside you and your soul knows the way.
What is true happiness?
It’s about the alchemy of presence. When I first started practicing mindfulness, I had no idea peace was actually possible, I scoffed at "world peace."
even today there is still a part of me deep inside which doesn't believe I am worthy of joy and delight. Yet through the practice of meditation I've also trained myself to see more clearly.Now, I know there is a deep and infinite well of joy and bliss inside me, all I have to do is find my way back to center.
In the present moment there are more than enough conditions for happiness.
Use this map to find and grow your own unique experience of happiness.
The Happy Map is a tool for your daily meditation practice which helps you learn about your ever-changing relationship to happiness so that you can sense and appreciate your powerful ability to transform pain into presence. When you wake up feeling heavy, look at this reminder of all the different varieties of happiness which could possibly be in your awareness, and let it inspire you to reach for a slightly better feeling.
Use it each day to observe how your relationship to happiness grows and changes as you evolve. Use it as a tool to dialogue with yourself about your sovereignty, the power you have to choose how you feel in every moment.
Unwelcome feelings will come, and it will always be your choice as to how to deal with them. Happiness helps you hold space for the difficult ones.
Self-love is knowing how to make the caring choice to gently turn your attention to the positive feelings which are already present in the here and now.
This is not about trying to feel something. It’s not about faking good vibes, manufacturing happiness, or ignoring the tough stuff.
This is about realizing you already have everything you need, you can make peace with things as they are, and let them be.
how to use it
PRESENCE
Simply center yourself and allow your gaze to scan the page until a word jumps out at you. This is the crystallization of your awareness around your present moment experience of your True Self.
RESONANCE
When you notice resonance with a word, feel the quality of this kind of happiness and observe how this frequency is experienced in your body and heart. Is it open and outward or more still and inward? Bright or soft? Upbeat or deep? ...
EMBODY
It can be helpful to find two words to describe how you are feeling in the moment to give a more complete picture of your present state. Then, let those two words be like poles you are held and dancing between. Feel this unique flavor of happiness in your body and carry it throughout your day.
Of course, please do remember to be kind to yourself, nonjudgmentally accepting of the way happiness may be a very small part of the mandala of your feelings and emotions. Feeling happy really is that simple.
So, my dear friend, are you ready to change the world with your happy heart?
