Happiness Is Only Ever Now!

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Wednesday April 22 2009

Hello there folks and welcome to the midweek celebration.

Today I'm celebrating! Not for any particular reason, simply because I'm in celebratory mood.

I have avowed to celebrate in all I do today. By the time you're reading this I'll likely have had a celebration breakfast and be well into my plans for the day. I plan on celebrating Spring with some ice cream at a couple of points in the day.

I am certainly planning to make sure that everyone I speak with knows I'm celebrating, and if they can possibly join me, they can have some ice cream also, as I will be celebrating the fact that they are relevant in my life.

I will undoubtedly be asked, "what are you celebrating"? My response will be, "because I can"! If pressed further, it will be because......

Happiness Is Only Ever Now!

by Karl Moore

"Few of us ever live in the present, we are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone." - Louis L'Armor

Many pubs in the United Kingdom have an infamous sign hanging above the bar:
"Free Beer Tomorrow!"

It's funny because, of course, "tomorrow" never comes.

But when you think about it, how many of us truly live our lives like that?

We spend so much time thinking about the past, or contemplating the future, that we forget to live in the moment. We fail to realize that happiness can only EVER be now.

Let me give you an example.

You're driving through the city and your favourite song hits the radio. You're stuck in traffic, but loving the music - and you start to crazily sing along. You really get into it. You're in the moment. But then you catch a few jealous faces in nearby cars, and go all shy and timid.

Suddenly you're no longer living in the moment. You're wondering what they'll think about you. You're concerned they'll disapprove. You freeze up. Your happiness has gone, and your inhibition has arrived.

You're no longer in the moment, in the NOW - you're stuck thinking about wanting approval from these people, worried what they'll think of you outside that moment.

Try to catch yourself at some random point today - and just check what's on your mind. If you're like most people, you'll be somewhere other than here and now.

You'll be thinking about whether you made a good impression with that guy earlier today. You might be thinking the holiday you have planned for next September. Or how all of your problems will be solved this time next year.

You'll be anywhere but in the MOMENT. In fact, we each spend 95% of our time in the past or the future.

But here's the thing: Life is transient. The past has gone. The future is just a dream. The only time that truly exists ever is RIGHT NOW.

In other words, RIGHT NOW is the ONLY time you can do or change ANYTHING in your life.
You are only ever what exists in THIS MOMENT.

So, are you HAPPY right now? Are you doing EVERYTHING you'd like to - and feeling THRILLED with life, as you read these words? If you're not, then make the decision to be happy.

NOW.

And if you'd like, put down this book, and go fly a kite. Or tell your partner that you love them. Or get your groovy flares on and head out to the nearby disco.

NOW is the only time you can change anything. And NOW is the only time you have.
So, make that simple decision - to be happy NOW.

Karl Moore is one of the 12 key teachers in The Meta Secret movie and the founder of Self Dev Radio. This is an extract from his new book The 18 Rules of Happiness.