Happiness is Wanting What You Have

I think I've mentioned in an earlier post that every Thursday at work I teach my trainees about personal responsibility and the total control they have over their own happiness. Well, this week 75% of my trainees leave at 1:00 instead of 3:00, so I have been only partially finishing each day and just pushing the rest of the curriculum out to the next day. That means I started the awesomeness that is Thursday yesterday, and I get to finish it up this morning. :-) That's two days of ultra positivity! I seriously love this part of my week. 

One of the skills we cover in the book is called "Living Each Day Gratefully." We talk about expanding our definitions of wealth and taking time to really pay attention to the wonders in our lives. One quote from the book is the following:

"The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."

Henry Miller

What this means is that we take a lot of things for granted! I actually saw a quote yesterday that said something along the lines of "what you take for granted, someone else is praying for." That is so very true! My trainees are all recipients of welfare and the majority of them feel kinda crappy about their circumstances. They tend to focus on what they do NOT have, but they give little attention to what they DO have. Did you know that in some countries, people don't even have the resources to obtain shoes? ALL of my trainees have shoes!!! Many, many people do not even have shelter to sleep under. All of my trainees have a place to sleep, whether it is their own or someone else's. These things make them much wealthier than many, many people all over the world. It's just hard for them to really see that sometimes!

My class book is riddled with "Hot Tips" to really help people think and put things into perspective. One of these tips is the following: "Happiness comes not from getting what you want, but from wanting what you already have...." I find this to be absolutely profound, and I really hope that it hits home with my trainees. Can you imagine if you wanted nothing more than what you already have? For example, I love my car. I love it so much that there is not another car on the road that I look at and wish was mine. If I had a million dollars, the last thing I would do is go car shopping. I WANT my car. That is a great feeling!

I've always been one to really cherish the things I have. Once I get a frying pan, for example, I feel as though that need has been fulfilled and I stop shopping for frying pans. I don't feel the need to get the latest and greatest with all the fancy shmancy bells and whistles. I just love MY frying pan. Even my frying pan can leave me feeling satisfied. I can't imagine the misery I would feel if I always wanted something "better." I would just be chasing happiness, all the time, and I would never find it.

Give close attention to what you have today! Be grateful! Be happy! Here is another quote that we will discuss this morning:

"If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years, how man would marvel and stare." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

But does the fact that the stars appear each night take away from the miracle of their twinkling? Only if we let it!!!

Gah!!!!! The world can be so awesome!!! Pay attention to what you have today and find that happiness! It's right there in your very own home. :-)