Latest research seems to point to optimism as being the attitude of winners. In the long run, and no matter what happens to you it is always better to face life with a positive attitude. Two people can experience the same event in two entirely different ways with entirely different effects on their bodies and minds. So the rule of thumb is positive self-talk. No matter what happens tell yourself why this is a good thing, and watch your life transform.
Positive self-talk is known to positively affects your heart and other body functions. Apparently we are easily fooled, and in this case it is really great to be a happiness fool.
These are some of the things that bring me happiness:
companionship & communication
feeling healthy
natural beauty
creating art
children
dogs
making my home nice
spirit
having enough money, food, shelter, clothes etc. and some to share
serendipity & synchronicity ( when the universe talks back to me)
learning and discovery
Happiness cannot be found through great effort and willpower, but is already present, in open relaxation and letting go. Don’t strain yourself, there is nothing to do or undo. Whatever momentarily arises in the body-mind has No real importance at all, has little reality whatsoever. Why identify with, and become attached to it, passing judgment upon it and ourselves? Far better to simply let the entire game happen on its own, springing up and falling back like waves, without changing or manipulating anything and notice how everything vanishes and reappears, magically, again and again, time without end. Only our searching for happiness prevents us from seeing it. It is like a vivid rainbow which you pursue without ever catching, or a dog chasing its own tail. Although peace and happiness do not exist as an actual thing or place, it is always available and accompanies you every instant. Don’t believe in the reality of good and bad experiences; they are like today’s ephemeral weather, like rainbows in the sky. Wanting to grasp the ungraspable, you exhaust yourself in vain. as soon as you open and relax this tight fist of grasping, infinite space is there open, inviting and comfortable. Make use of this spaciousness, this freedom and natural ease. Don’t search any further looking for the great awakened elephant, who is already resting quietly at home in front of your own hearth. Nothing to do or undo, nothing to force, nothing to want, and nothing missing. Emaho! Marvelous! Everything happens by itself. Lama Gendun Rinpoche
