Rebooting back to happiness!

Did you know that our “normal” unhindered state is purely and simply: Happiness? 

Please forgive me if I am oversimplifying here, but - throughout our millions and millions of years of evolution - it really comes back to this: We all shift between two fundamental vital states. 

• “Flight or fight”, which is whenever you encounter a “threat” and need to face the danger, either by fleeing, or by fighting it. Your body aptly responds by rushing your blood to your extremities, your legs and your arms, so that you can flee or fight more effectively, and your system goes into “high alert” modus.
• “Rest and digest”, which is basically “any other time”, where - in the absence of immediate danger - we can “simply be”. Here our body goes back to its most important functions, which is resting (to regenerate itself) and digesting (to produce energy for all its vital functions).

So far so good, right? 

Well, it makes sense that we have evolved to be ready to react to dangers, when they occur, by being alert, and by taking care of ourselves or just relaxing, otherwise. The way our body is wired is highly effective. Simply ingenious! 

Isn’t it just wonderful to know that our “default” state is happiness?

The only “catch” here is that nowadays we tend to see “threats” everywhere, reacting by turning on our “flight or flight” (stress!) mode to such daily events like emails, deadlines, calls, and so on… 

No hungry lion is waiting for us around the corner (well, most likely). And, even when we face lots of stress at work, overcoming it does not usually involve a fight to the death with our manager (hopefully!). 

But we still tend to react to the many demands and increasing pressure we face every day as if they were “life-threatening” situations in their own right - Even though the danger is mostly just made up in our mind!

Guess what then? Your primordial and well-calibrated response of rushing your blood to your articulations, so that you have a better chance at fighting, or running faster, which is very effective when facing a lion, is not helping much when you are mostly just sitting in front of your computer trying to keep down your last (mostly hurried) meal - with no fair chances of getting well digested anyway, as your blood is rushed out of your central system, where your stomach is, towards your articulations.

So what was an appropriate response of our body when facing a real and “immediate” threat becomes the cause of many of our modern afflictions, whenever all we are facing is mostly just our own “mental” stress - triggered not by a hungry predator, but by our own hopelessly multi-tasking and perpetually hurried lifestyle.

Beware of your powers! It all begins, and ends, in your mind.

Whatever you give power to, has power over you - But only as long as you allow it.

Fortunately, we still got the one key thing right: Our “default” state was - and still is - a happy, peaceful one. Remember: 

Whenever you are “safe”, because there is no imminent “danger”, your body is wired to simply go back to its contented “rest and digest” mode.
Happiness is your normal nature!

Do you know what one of the most ancient and accredited definitions of “yoga” is? I know it by heart now, because this was one of the fundamental questions during my yoga teacher training:

Yoga is the state where the mental and emotional fluctuations (or “waves”) become still - Patanjali

Basically:

Beyond all the “noise” - whenever you stop paying so much attention to your own “mental chatter” (incessantly reminding you of that email, that call, that next task…), you can always find your own “natural” state of peaceful silence and sovereign joy. 

In the same way, as when you look up at the sky: 

When your thoughts are carried away by the clouds flying by, you can easily forget the infinite and immaculate blue of the sky above. Your passing thoughts may be the clouds. But _You_ are that perfect blue sky above, beyond all the passing thoughts.

It is as simple as that:

All the problems arise when you “forget” that you are the sky.
Because you identify with your thoughts.
And guess who is telling you that? 

Exactly! That is just your mind, with one of your thoughts… How “manipulating” is that?

Let your heart be your guide

When I notice I am feeling “stressed” and catch myself being carried away by my own “cloudy thoughts” already, I have adopted my own personal Mantra - Not to be taken lightly, because Mantras are very powerful affirmations (and - beware! - I am about to reveal mine to you)!

Think less, Feel more…

And - depending on the “shape” of my own clouds - it can go on with:

Fear less, Love / Play more…
Consume less, Create more…
Talk less, Listen more…

As Einstein aptly put it:

The Intuitive Mind is a sacred gift and the Rational Mind is a faithful servant.
We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. 

Einstein

The true purpose of the rational mind is to provide “logical context” to creative ideas and (Queen above it all!) our Intuition, which taps into the deeper lawyer of our being.

But in our modern, fast-paced “productive” lifestyle, it is easy to get derailed and finally lose sight of our most “sacred gift”. Many of our (self “made-up”) problems arise because we get too carried away, and side-tracked by our thoughts, instead of simply pressing “pause”, and paying attention to our heart.

We indeed treat the mind as the “master” and the heart as a “servant”. We “forget” our true nature, where the heart shall lead, and the mind help.

Think about it: 

• How often do you let your mind take the reins, while you quickly dismiss your “emotions” as simple distractions, or, worse, a sign of “weakness”?

Let’s be honest! Instead of paying attention to our feelings, we tend to let our reason do all of the talking, with little or no space for “interruptions”. 

Why? Well, it is easier to rush than to press that “pause” button, and face our deeper emotions. Because _that_ takes real courage.

Be courageous: Listen to your heart!

As a case in point, do you know where the term “courage” comes from? 

Ethimologically, as the French word “coeur” suggests, its root means “heart”, pointing to our real source of power, and real “sacred gift”.

Press stop to check in with yourself. Really pay attention to how you feel: 

• When you follow your endless trail of thoughts, mostly blindly and bringing you round and round on the same old patterns, don’t you feel tired, depleted even, at the end of the day?
• And when you stop to listen to your heart, your intuition, don’t you instead feel inspired and empowered to do anything?

So, do what makes you happy. Take that leap of faith and follow your heart. And then let your rationality catch up with it, instead of the other way round. Because, when you do, there are no limits to what you can do. 

Remember: 

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere

Einstein

Because:

Logic always follows the same rigid patterns, based on experience.
Imagination has no boundaries. And create new experiences. 

The only question is: 

Are you willing to be courageous, take that leap, and just fly with your heart?