Peace and Happiness

Happiness is a product of several things in our life. Our relationships. Our financial stability. Our overall growth. And a lot more. There’s no single standard rule to achieving it, no one defined way toward happiness. There are only different bridges that may help us reach it. One of these bridges is peace.

Peace with the past

Any excess baggage we carry from the past is a hindrance to our happiness. It could be an unsettled disagreement with a former friend, anger toward an ex-spouse, or a hidden grudge against a member of our family.

So let’s forgive, let go, and move on.

As has always been said, past is past, and we can do nothing about it.

The best move? Let’s not allow it to affect our present and our future. Let’s not let our past be a hindrance to our happiness.

Peace with the world

The world is always imperfect; it’s never been a paradise, and never will be. There will always be problems, there will always be dissensions, there will always be injustice.

There will always be traffics and rush hours. There will always be bitter people who will curse at others when they don’t get what they want. There will always be huge taxes, soaring commodity prices, rainy days, but so what? That’s the world. That’s life.

If something can be done, let’s do it. If not, so be it. Let’s not let daily hassles ruin what could otherwise be a happy day. As they say, we should all learn to accept what we cannot change.

Peace with ourselves

Our own worst critic is often ourselves. And as the world is never perfect, so is every person. Everyday, we will find flaws in ourselves. In the way we dress, in the way we deal with others, or in the way we perform our work. There will always be low days when we wouldn’t feel good about ourselves. But that’s just it. No one is perfect. Otherwise, life will lose its meaning.

So let’s accept our imperfections. Let’s forgive ourselves when we commit mistakes. Let’s understand that there’s always a great room for improvement in our life. Let’s recognize our abilities and success. Let us all love ourselves.

Happiness is not found in perfection. It can be found even in the imperfections in our past, in the world around us, and in ourselves, if we learn to come to terms with them… To not always be on the lookout for somebody to blame for them and to realize that some imperfections are doors leading to opportunities that will further improve our life.

[Also posted in my Facebook page]

Conscience

If there’s one thing in this world that I listen to the most, it’s my conscience. 
So if you think that I’m not listening to you, maybe because I’m listening to my own inner voice.

Life’s Too Good for Sulking

(photo credit)

This is for you, for you who can’t find enough reason to smile.

The world is good, or are you not aware of that? Can’t you see the blessings that surround you? Can’t you see the world opening its arms, ready to embrace you?

I’ve seen you a lot of times like that, and a few times I’ve tried to smile at you. But, it seems you’re so wrapped up in your misery, or anger, or whatever it is that is consuming you – you seem not to have seen me at all.

I don’t know what you’re going through. What pain you may be enduring, what burden you may be carrying on your shoulders. But there’s one wish I have for you. I wish that you will see the beauty surrounding you. It’s not the end of the world, and life is good. Life is gentle to those who are suffering, tender to those who are in pain.

Life loves you.

The Joy in Serving

To serve is to make a sacrifice, and no sacrifice ever goes to waste.

Service is noble in that it transcends the basic human tendency to preserve one’s self and to pursue those things that cater to the self alone. When one serves, he lowers himself and lifts up the person he is serving, putting the needs of that person above the needs of the self. This is the ultimate act of heroism, and this act is universal – it is within the reach of everybody. Anyone can serve, young or old, men or women. And why not, we all have something to offer to others – our time, our efforts, our prayers, and our love. These things may seem simple, but they actually take much. They require will, dedication, consistency, and sincerity. A person can never truly serve without sincerity in his heart. It is sincerity that transmits one’s love to another. And in the absence of will, dedication, and consistency, it would be difficult to share one’s time and efforts.

Service is the emptying of the self, but in the process it is also the filling of the self. Wherever there is vacuum, an empty space, the universe rushes to fill it in. So when one empties himself in service, the emptiness is filled up fast – with more blessings. God always rewards those who empty themselves for others, and God always gives great rewards. After all, He is the ultimate giver, and as I have always been told, no one can outdo His generosity.

The joy in serving comes from the knowledge that we are making other people happy, that we are blessing their lives, and that we are leaving a legacy. Aside from this, it also comes from the knowledge that whatever we lose, we will reclaim – and we will be rewarded a hundred times. So come, let’s serve 

Our God by Chris Tomlin

I feel so blessed today.

I hope you are, too.

The Cultivation of Hate

Hate is but a natural feeling towards someone or something. In fact, it may sometimes be justified by several reasons. It could be an indication that our right is being stepped on. It could be a symptom indicating that there is conflict between our inner self and our outside environment. At other times, hate may not be justified. It is sometimes triggered by jealousy or envy. Or pride. And yet in certain instances, hate is neither right nor wrong. It is simply a defense against pain, humiliation, or anything that degrades us as a human being.

Hate is but natural, but immersing ourselves in this emotion for a long time is destructive. Hate destroys the person that harbors it, more than the person to which hate is directed. Hate eats at the heart and the mind, and its primary victim is the one that feels it.

They say “he who angers you conquers you.” True. By feeling hatred, we let another person, a thing, or a situation affect our sense of peace and destroy the harmony within us. And the victim? None other than ourselves.

So while feeling hate is natural, we must not allow it to reside in our heart for a long time. We must not nurture it. We must not allow it to grow into a monster that will soon kill us.