Happiness Training?

Some studies point to the possiblity that happiness can be learned. A piece in the Princetonian discusses studies of religious and meditative practices, seeking to gain insight into whether we are able to learn to be happier.

While I was in New York recently, I was introduced to Shambala meditation and have been practicing off and on since then. Even though I am meditating just ten minutes each time (mostly just once during any particular day) I'm experiencing some unexpected results. I find myself having more moments of happiness.

Brief periods of quiet and focusing on my breathing reap benefits throughout the day. I find that I'm more present, and able to remember how important it is for me to experience this very moment. I'm less likely to be living in the past or the future. I notice more: sounds, smells, details of my surroundings. I feel more grounded, more capable, and yes, happier overall.

Often I become aware of what a marvel it all is. To be alive, to breathe, to connect with others, And I feel less worry and compulsion to do things. It's enough to just be.

It's so amazing that such a simple, brief commitment each day can lead to such a change. I'm a living example of what The Princetonian article documents. We CAN learn to have more happiness, and for me, meditation has become one of the ways.

Simple Is Sometimes Hard

I've noticed lately that I have a shortage of patience. I find myself being short-tempered with those around me when things aren't going the way I expect or prefer.

Well, that's easy to deal with. Just notice my change in attitude/behaviour when it happens, recognize that's not how I wish to behave, and do whatever I need to chill out a bit. If only!

What happens instead? I get more and more caught up in being irked, and I notice stuff that reinforces the feeling. And guess what? That's right. The spiral away from knowing the world as a positive place gets bigger and bigger, until I experience pretty much everything through the lens of "why can't things be the way I want?"

Note to self...just relax, people are not here to meet your needs all the time, and flexibility allows for a much richer life. So there! Easy, huh?