“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” ~ the Dalai Lama
When you think about some of the greatest philosophers who have ever lived and whose ideas are still relevant today…who comes to mind?
Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Plato, Epicurus, Confucius…Contrera.
Contrera???? Wait a minute, hold the phone, stop the presses, kill the power!! First of all who the heck is he and what impact does his philosophy have on the world?
Let me explain…
Your World = Your Happiness
While the likes of Socrates and Plato may change the way many of us view the external world, it is our personal philosophy that directly impacts the level of happiness we experience in our inner world.
Your personal philosophy is rooted in your beliefs, and the sum of your beliefs creates your internal belief system which acts like your internal GPS, guiding and directing your actions, decisions, and behaviors.
This system also provides the lenses with which we see and experience the world and determines what we make things mean. It was Carl Jung, the brilliant Swiss psychiatrist who once said, “It is not what it is, but what we make it mean!”
What you believe about money, relationships, education, government, sex, success, love, etc. are driving your actions that are creating your level of success and happiness.
So, if you are not happy with the results you’re getting in your life there is a good chance that your personal philosophy (the sum of your beliefs) are not aligned with the results you truly want. In other words, if you are not happy your internal personal philosophy might need a small tweak, an adjustment, or possibly a complete overhaul.
Living in the Present
Your present day personal philosophy is having a far greater impact on your life than what the great philosophers said thousands of years ago.
So if that is the case do you think it might be a good time reflect on the foundation of your personal philosophy? What you’re making things mean? Are you making the choices in life that are giving you the results you want or desire?
Below are 3 situations and 3 possible reactions that may help you gain clarity on your own personal philosophy. Choose the way you most typically react:
- When someone you love (partner, spouse, child, relative, or friend) makes a mistake do you: A) Get angry and tell them to get their act together. B) Say “don’t worry about it, we all make mistakes.” C) Say “Don’t worry about it, everyone makes mistakes” and then spend the next hour lecturing them on how they could avoid making mistakes in the future?
- If someone shares bad news about a person that you really don’t like do you: A) Think to yourself … good they deserve what they get. B) Think to yourself even though you are not fond of them you still hope they are okay. C) Think to yourself better them than me!
- When your driving and someone cuts you off do you: A) Slam on the horn and yell an obscenity. B) Smile and let it go. C) Yell, smile and give them the finger as you speed past them.
If you answered B to all of the above questions, than chances are you have a healthy personal philosophy and are reasonably happy. If you answered everything but B to all 3 questions you might ask yourself … how’s that working for you? Are you truly happy? Do you want to be happier?
In Closing…
You can try to control the world and everything and everyone in it, but I believe that path leads to a life of unhappiness.
Happiness comes down to having a personal philosophy that is based on enjoying the simple things in life, letting go of all the things that create frustration, and angst, and most importantly, letting go of all the things you have no control over!
Each and everyday you have the opportunity to choose happiness based on what you are making things mean…
I hope you choose wisely!
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