Three Simple Secrets for a Happy Life

From time to time I come across words of inspiration which really strike a chord with me.   The sort of thing that really makes me analyse the way I live my life or respond to those around me.   Mostly,  I keep these thoughts to myself.   I choose to do this because often they involve very personal feelings and moments of critical self analysis.  Even though I like to think of my blog as a place where I can journal my life (warts and all!) - somehow the idea of completely bearing my vulnerability to the entire world is well....... a little awkward to be perfectly honest. In the back of my mind I can also hear Matthew (jokingly) saying to me : "Gee Mum - sounds like you're trying to be Oprah or something!" However,  something I read recently was just so simple and so true that I just had to journal it here.  Not just to share with anyone who might happen to stumble across my ramblings but also so that I can have it for ever more.     My Mantra for Life. It was written by Serge King.  Now I have never heard of Serge King?  However Mr Google tells me that  "Serge King PhD is an author, humanitarian, speaker, scholar and speaker and has published the world's largest selection of books and tapes on Huna, the Polynesian philosophy and practice of effective living, and on the spirit of Aloha, the attitude of love and peace for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous."   From what I have read,  his philosophy on life seems to be very uncomplicated with a good dose of common sense thrown in for good measure.  In fact, it's a wonder he hasn't got his own television show somewhere in the world!    I just love his Three Simple Simple Secrets for a Happy Life : Bless the present Trust yourself Expect the best   How powerful are those three little statements? Imagine if your lived your life according to them! - Bless the Present In a previous "Oprah" moment (sorry Matthew!) -  I did a posting on "Being Present".   BEING present means that we are aware of the present - not bringing the past in to taint the moment. Not worrying about things that haven't happened yet. Not focusing on how bad things are, because you are too busy blessing this moment as perfect - for whatever reason.  Just because IT IS! ‘Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh Anger, resentment, fear, jealousy, disappointment, frustration and other negative emotions are what we bring from the past.   They are not relevant to this moment. The first time I read this little quote - it was like a real lightbulb moment :- "after 3 minutes, whatever happened is in the past and should be let go!"    Yes!  Time to embrace where we are now and put an end to all the negative thoughts of the past and future. BE present and  in being present - be thankful! - Trust Yourself I have always been a big believer in "listening to that little voice" deep inside me.   It was something I also taught my children from when they were very young and over the years they have (individually) related stories to me of how that "little voice" has got them out of some tricky situations.   It's a bit like the stories I used to tell Kendall (when she first got her licence) about the dangers of picking up hitchhikers!   My stories traumatised her so much that I doubt she would even pick ME up if I was stuck by the side of the road with a flat tyre!    Have you ever had a sense of KNOWING something is true or the right thing to do?  It is almost like an intuitive wisdom.  I guess that is what "Trusting Yourself" is all about.   It really is your truth.  It truly is something to treasure. - Expect the Best My dear Mum's favourite saying used to be  "with my luck....," "I'll never win anything".  OR "I'm such a Jonah....nothing works out for me".    Yet, in so many ways she was one of the most positive people I have ever known. There are so many people who succumb to negative thinking.  Goodness knows how it has come about or whether they have been so used to using negative language that they can't break the habit.  Maybe we also only see what we expect to see. How much more uplifting would it be if in every situation, in every person, in every relationship - we expected the best! I'm definitely going to give it a try.  What about you?

So thank you Serge King.  You have given me such a lot to think about and to have it condensed into just 3 simple secrets - quite inspirational.

and yes, dear family (particularly Matthew!).........

I will be back to my regular postings about cushions, and flowers, and gardens and Mickey and Buffy  and other pretty stuff -

but maybe tomorrow......