“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” The Buddha

Happiness can come in many forms, or rather many things can effect our happiness.

The happiness of honesty

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

 Mahatma Gandhi

“No matter how difficult and painful it may be, nothing sounds as good to the soul as the truth.” - Martha Beck

We cannot be happy if we are not honest with ourselves.

When we think one thing, say something else and then do something else, we are living in conflict, agitation, anxiety. There is a deep peace and harmonious energy when your thoughts, words and actions agree. This fosters trust.  Trust in yourself, the universe and other people.

A practice: Try a month of honest communication. This is not cruel, or blunt. A simple “no thank you” can feel so good. Without explanation or apology. Intentions are everything. So be honest about your motives and intention. 

A practice: Sitting with this, focusing on a conversation you have had or are going to have. What motivates you? What feelings are there? What are you afraid of? What are the barriers? What would you like to say? What stops you?

  The Happiness of thought.

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” Eckhart Tolle

"It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it." Dale Carnegie

“You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, and your intentions create your reality”  Wayne W. Dyer

 Once we understand and experience that we are not our minds, we realise we are living with a powerful force. 

I often say that the mind is like a two year old child. 

It gets bored quickly, wants constant attention and stimulation, and needs close observation. Thinks it’s the centre of the universe. You need to know what it’s doing. If you leave it to do what it wants …..it will cause havoc! 

So the best way to manage your mind and a two year old is to either give it something very interesting and educational, something entertaining, or a harmless diversion. The challenge is making the diversions healthy and helpful. 

The mind is always producing thoughts. It is like a monkey jumping from one thing to another.

So you can become the director of the thoughts.” I am”  is a powerful statement. Find your powerful statements. 

Some people call them affirmations — affirming your positive intentions 

A practice: sit and mentally repeat these words: I am safe, I am loved, I am healthy, I am happy

The happiness of gratitude

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”  G.K. Chesterton

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.”  Douglas Wood

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”  A.A. Milne

The happiness of the present moment

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

“All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and

not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms

of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

 Eckhart Tolle

"If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present."

Roy T. Bennett

The happiness of stillness

“All that is required to realize the Self is to be still.” 

Sri Ramana Maharshi

“Seek out a tree and let it teach you stillness.” Eckhart Tolle