05.03.07

Trick for Happiness

Posted in Paths to Bliss, Quick Tricks at 12:36 pm

I didn’t say “quick trick” this time because the beginning of this process isn’t exactly quick, but once you do the basic work you can do quick “tune ups” when needed. So anyway, I was at an acupuncture appointment this week and part of it was going over my life back from childhood and talking about what it was like to be me and if I had suffered any trauma. And I’ve thought about my life story many times and told it several times, but this time the experience of remembering was completely different for me.

A transcript of the story probably wouldn’t have yielded any surprising differences (except for a few things that had different emotional pulls than they used to)–what was different was how I was experiencing the story. Because I have been questioning the thoughts and beliefs I have, I was able to come to completely different conclusions about how and why the events of my life unfolded. Because I was coming from an assumption that I am a whole person (rather than a screwed up one), the events of my life seem like building blocks rather than stumbling blocks.

The Foundation for This Trick
Sit quietly and breathe for 10 or 15 minutes. Try and be fully present in your body and think about the things you’re grateful for and hold an image that makes you happy. Acknowledge but let go of any worry or stress that you have. Once you’re feeling happy and content in the moment, start writing down your life story starting from the earliest you can remember. (You can also say this out loud and you can ask a friend to be there with you to talk to if you’d like. You can do this in your head, but your old thoughts might get in the way and interrupt your story.)

As you tell the story, notice how the events in your life can have a new perspective. Notice how they shaped all the wonderful parts about yourself. Has your story changed? Have your thoughts about your story changed? What assumptions have you let go?

The Quick Trick
Whenever you talk about the events of your life, try and make them a full experience by noticing where you are in your life and acknowledging how all the good and painful experiences in your life have brought you to where you are now. Instead of falling into old thoughts about your stories, make a conscious effort to create new ones. Appreciate your new perspective!

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