What is Preventing You From Being Happy

      

By Barbara Berger

Barbara Berger   If you ask yourself what is actually preventing you from being happy right now, right this very moment – what comes up? If you are honest with yourself, you will probably say it’s because you don’t have what you want. You will probably say that the only thing that is preventing you from being happy right now is wanting something you don’t have. This could be better health, a partner who’s more understanding, more money in the bank, or a nicer apartment, or a million and one other things. But whatever it is, it’s something you don’t have at this very moment in time. And this is what’s making you unhappy right now.  Isn’t this true? Isn’t it true that you’re unhappy right now because you feel there is something missing, something you are lacking? What else could possibly make you unhappy at this very moment? It can only be the thought of what you don’t have. Because what else is there? You are sitting here right now, reading this. And what’s wrong with that? The only thing that can be wrong with this moment is your own dissatisfaction with what is. It has to be this because there is absolutely nothing else is going on. And this brings us to the crux of the matter which is all our experiences—every single experience we are having—is just a thought in our minds.    In other words, there is reality—what is—and then there are our thoughts about what is going on. These are two different things. And most important of all, it’s crucial to understand that our freedom and development as free beings is determined by our understanding of this mechanism. That it’s not so much what is actually going on that makes us feel the way we do, but what we are thinking and believing about what is happening that determines the way we experience what’s going on.    So yes, the vital point for you and me is that we experience things the way we do because of our thinking. So it’s not what’s happening out there that’s the problem but the way we interpret what’s happening that the decisive factor in our experience.    That’s all that is going on.    You’re sitting here, reading this. Nothing else is happening. And you’re either liking what’s going on or you’re not liking it. And that’s always the case no matter what is going on, and this is always true for all of us. We live and things happen and then we think some experiences are good and other experiences are bad or at least less good. We live and things happen and then we believe these experiences, events and people either live up to our expectations or they don’t. And that’s what we get to live, that’s our experience. It’s as simple as that.      It’s all just thoughts in our minds.    Always. All the time.    Just look at your own experience. Either you are thinking you like something or you are thinking you dislike it. And that’s about it. The situations in and of themselves, the specific events, circumstances and people are just what they are. In and of themselves, they have no inherent value. They just are. We can like them or we can dislike them, but they’re still just what they are. Our preferences don’t really have much to do with it at all. Our preferences are really just reflecting the belief systems we’ve been programmed with since childhood. Which is why it’s always a good idea to look a little more closely at our belief systems and discard the beliefs that are either inappropriate or have nothing to do with reality or are preventing us from living happy lives right now.    So what’s it going to be?    Only you can decide for you.    Because again, Life is unfolding before each one of us, and everything we see, hear, touch, taste are just the happenings of being alive. It’s our preferences that make us happy or unhappy. So yes, the truth of the matter is there is reality—and then there’s our thinking. And these are two different things.   Radical stuff Now I know this is very radical stuff but it’s true nevertheless. And this brings us to the startling conclusion that you and I can lead happy lives regardless of what we have or don’t have. Because when we drop our interpretation of events, we find ourselves living here and now in this present moment. And that’s about it. With no stories, no comparisons, no expectations, life just is and we are just here. And what could possibly be wrong with that? And so we find, to our great and eternal delight, that at this very moment, if we drop our stories and beliefs for just a moment and stand quietly in the now, we’re really quite happy! We find that right this very moment everything is ok. And then perhaps we get a glimpse of the amazing fact that happiness is what we are. That happiness is our nature, our natural state.    But what exactly is it about the present moment that makes this so? The great paradox is that the moment we step out of our stories—even for just a minute—the radiance and amazing power and Presence of this Now Moment shines through. A radiance that is beyond the comprehension of our thinking minds because it is beyond our thinking. And we find that this radiance, this awesome power and presence, is our true nature. Which is why the suchness and richness of this moment turns out to be so very delightful!    Hope you are enjoying this now moment!    Blessings to you on your way!   _____   About Barbara Berger American-born Barbara Berger is the best-selling author of “The Road to Power – Fast Food for the Soul” (published in 30 languages), “Are You Happy Now? 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life” (published in 21 languages) and “The Awakening Human Being – A Guide to the Power of Mind”. Barbara's latest book is "Find and Follow Your Inner Compass – Instant Guidance in an Age of Information Overload". Barbara also works as coach and therapist, helping people around the globe come into alignment with their own true power. For more about Barbara see her Web site http://www.beamteam.com ** Below are titles & links to the beautiful work from Barbara. She is a long time contributor and my dear friend : mysticlivingtoday.com – articles by Barbara Berger   The Ultimate Self-Empowerment Tool – Your Inner Compass http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2087    The Key to Happiness; Understanding the Way the Mind Works http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2113   Who would you be if you didn’t know your age? http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2147   The Power of Right Seeing http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2177   Review of Barbara Berger’s book Find and Follow Your Inner Compass by Riki Frahmann http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2184   Are You Here Now? Are You Happy Now? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2247   Discovering Who You Really Are https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2284   Getting in Touch with Your Heart https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2299   Follow Your Passion & Accept the Consequences https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2324   The Power of the Joyful Giver https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2359   You have nothing to deal with but your own thoughts https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2374   Radio show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/starzcast/2018/09/26/natalie-interviews-barbara-berger--author-on-self-empowerment   Peace Is Your Nature https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2398   The Power of Contemplating Love https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2423   How Can We Serve? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2452   The Importance of Mind Management https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2472   Focus on the Real – A Way of Dealing with Worry and Catastrophic Thinking https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2499   Nothing External Can Disturb Us https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2527   Just Let Everything Be! https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2548   The Gift of Crisis https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2563   The Power of Asking for Help https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2592&fbclid=IwAR1ZK91thdusdkQTdqu0fHXgarR7Ghv7rmAjR6NypUUfLh2wv1ozLLi-HjU   What does it mean to be psychologically mature? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2625   The Meaning of Life https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2644   The Power of Praise & Blessing https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2682   Our Unalienable Rights https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2712   Meeting the Family & Keeping Your Peace of Mind https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2737   Healthy Boundaries – the Secret of Good Relationships https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2758   Healthy Parenting https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2777   Wanting What You Have https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2801     NOW IS THE TIME TO THINK POSITIVE https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2813   A Scientific Prayer to Lift Your Consciousness https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2828   Healthy Self Talk about the Body https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2850   Time Are Changing Aren’t They? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2881   Are You Following Your Inner Compass? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2904   What Happens When We Don't Listen to Our Inner Compass?   https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2920   Your Right to Be You https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2961   Doing the Right Thing https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2992   Seeing Behind Impermanence https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3026   Opening Your Heart – A Prayer for the New Year https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3051   Welcome to the World of Starbrow and His Amazing Spiritual Adventures https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3050   Use This Simple, Effective Right Reaction Exercise to Tackle Stressful Moments   https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3084   No Healing Without Feeling https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3102   Happiness Is an Inside Job https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3131   The Power of Joy and Laughter https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3158   Watch Out for Black and White Thinking! https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3173 The Power of Eating Less https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3217   Good Ways to Say No and Set Limits https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3242   Higher Consciousness and the Power of Nature https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3259   Gratitude for the Gift of Life https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3284   Do Not Be Bluffed by Your Body https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3297   What Is Spiritual Bypass? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3329   The Intention of Oneness https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3358   The Importance of Having a Daily Program https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3381