The secret of happiness

There is no individual in this world who does not yearn for or seek happiness. This objective arises, without thinking, from the deepest part of our being; it is something common to all of us. And this drives us to always search, in one way or another, for the secret of happiness. Almost always in the wrong way, for example, trying to fill the void with goods, with people, with events. And in this search, voluntary or unconscious, we often have illusions like these: -I'm going to be happy when I get married-, -I'm going to be happy when I get married-, -I'm going to be happy when I get married-.

Because we believe that with a partner we can fill that void. And we even hold them responsible for our joy or suffering. Then we hear the famous phrases -You are my happiness- or on the contrary -You are the cause of my suffering-.

Another situation is being in a couple and thinking -I will be happy when I am alone- or -We will be happy when we have a child- or -We will be happy when we have a child-.

And so we can go on and on citing so many things we wish for and believe that having them will bring us happiness: a nice house of our own, a new car, a different job, moving to the city, moving to the countryside.

The way our mind, our emotions, our instincts, our psyche, actually works, induces us to have these illusions. We are educated that way, we live in societies that teach us that. For example, with the precept of studying very hard in order to be happy. But we haven't asked ourselves, why not be happy also while studying?

And after so much sacrifice, if we get the desired job, the environment advises us again -Work hard to get what will make you happy-.

And life passes, and death comes and the goal has never been reached. We run like on a hamster wheel, to nowhere, believing that we are going somewhere. Or we just don't try anything, because we feel that all is lost.

The most optimistic look for things out of the ordinary trying to find the secret of happiness, some magic and infallible formula. Many try to find it in alternative food practices, naturist life, strange potions, different life habits, rituals, mantrams, astrology, perfumes, dances, etc, etc, etc, etc. 

But the truth is that the fullness of feeling whole or happy could not be detached from a single material or spiritual element. It could not originate from one person, one event, one thing. Happiness is produced from a conjunction of elements and has its origin within ourselves.

In Search of Authentic Happiness

If we really long for true happiness and not just an ephemeral pleasure we must first realise that nothing that exists outside of us can give it to us, and then know that we need to look at what is inside us and eliminate all the negative aspects. Harmful elements that saturate us like a dark fog and do not allow the light to enter. Defects such as jealousy, selfishness, hatred, greed. Negative emotions such as anguish, anxiety, fear. It is necessary to remove what we have too much of so that what we lack can emerge.

In addition, an essential point is to learn to achieve a balance that allows us to have the right inner states for the outer events we are experiencing.

"The ability to live is based precisely on the way in which one manages to combine the conscious states with the circumstances of existence. It may be the case that a circumstance that could be happy is not happy, because we do not know how to combine the conscious state with the event itself. When we look at the world in which we live, we can verify the blunt, clear and definite fact that there are people who would like to be happy and are not happy". Samael Aun Weor; The Golden Word.

It is common knowledge that many people have everything that is supposedly needed to be happy, but are not. On the other hand, there are people with so few material things, or even sick people, that they exhale and even share their happiness. So you don't have to be too wise to realise that material things don't exactly bring happiness.

"So it is not money in itself that can give us happiness; it all depends on the way in which one knows how to combine the states of consciousness with the events, the circumstances of practical life.

If someone, placed in magnificent conditions, is not equal to the circumstances, does not know how to combine intelligently the states of consciousness with the environment in which he lives and develops, he will unquestionably be unhappy. But another who, though in difficult circumstances, knows how to combine the facts of his practical life with his states of consciousness, achieves wellbeing, prosperity, happiness, etc. Thus, it becomes urgent to understand the necessity of learning to live wisely". Samael Aun Weor; The Golden Word

The need for inner change

There is a phrase commonly attributed to Alberth Einstein, the great German physicist, which goes: "Don't expect different results by doing the same thing over and over again".

The authorship of this prayer is not proven, but beyond that, it illustrates great wisdom. If we look closely at our lives, we will realise that our way of acting is always repeating itself. This is because the elements within us are always the same, even though they act in different circumstances. Therefore, we always get the same results.

For example: It may be that in the face of a difficulty a person abandons his or her objective and as a consequence the result will always be a failure to achieve the proposed goals. 

But if that person eliminates the element within him or herself that provokes this renunciation, there will be a change in his or her actions. And consequently the results will also be different. That element is a defect that could be fear, insecurity, laziness, etc., which, when eliminated, produces a radical change within that person. 

"If we want a definite change in the circumstances of life, it is necessary that such a change should first take place within ourselves; if we do not change anything internally, life will continue with its difficulties externally. First of all, it is necessary to become masters of ourselves. As long as one does not know how to govern oneself, one will not be able to govern the difficult circumstances of existence either". Samael Aun Weor

A road ahead

As we have seen in these brief words, happiness does not come at the snap of a finger. But it is not impossible to reach it either, and it is only natural that it should be our greatest desire. However, to get closer to it we must first want it, know that it is produced from the inside out and put our will to achieve it through change.

Happiness in the human being should be something natural, something that is felt when watching a sunset, hearing the birds sing, contemplating a beautiful flower, and in every moment of life. However, in this age in which we live, people have lost the connection with our real Self, the divine principle that exists in everyone, from which happiness and peace emanate. Instead we find ourselves in the darkness of life-damaging elements such as resentment, fear, selfishness, pessimism and so many others.

As we clear those weeds and integrate with the divine principle within us, we can conquer the lost paradise. And become happy beyond the circumstances of life, and even radiate that to those around us.

To begin to see your inner world, we invite you to our free online self-knowledge courses.