I’m not talking about surface happiness here, mind you, the pleasure that we might derive from going to a movie or spending time with friends.

Lasting happiness

I’m talking about lasting happiness — the deep, irrevocable happiness of our own being — happiness so deep that it fills every fiber of our body and mind and soul with bliss and never goes away.

The cosmos must have a good laugh (or cry) about all this once in awhile, because that which would make us truly happy and whole and at peace is never going to stop looking for us. Yet as long as we keep ignoring it or trying to hide from it, looking for happiness on our own terms — we actually make ourselves very unhappy and troubled.

Where true happiness and peace reside

Here are four ways you can resolve this situation and come out from the shadows, so to speak, so that you reconnect with the truth of your own being where all true happiness and peace reside.

1. (This is an important one). Be kind to yourself.

Be kind to yourself. Love yourself. And most importantly, forgive yourself. It is amazing how much you’ve handled in your life, and how far you’ve come.

2. Think about something beautiful.

Stop thinking about all the troubles in your life or in the world and think about something beautiful. My dad, who lived until he was 95, and liked to say he could put his medical history on the back of a postage stamp, told me once that he made a point of thinking about something beautiful, a happy memory, every night before he went to sleep.

3. Stop being so busy

Stop being so busy for a moment and simply surrender to the stillness that is calling to you in every moment.

4. Give thanks for the stillness

Give thanks for the stillness even if it makes you uncomfortable — which of course it will, because this is what stillness does. Consider the possibility that this apparent emptiness is the very face of the happiness you have been looking for so long.

Do you have any thoughts on this line of thinking? I’d love to hear from you. It may seem as if we’re strangers — ships passing pass in the night — but I don’t believe it for a moment.

Picture credit:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2490/3762343282_e49fc340a2_m.jpg

Is happiness looking for you? is a post from: The Happy Seeker - Happiness inner peace

A remarkable adventure is underway in this world. Although much is disintegrating, I strongly believe something very positive and beautiful is emerging in the midst of the pain and suffering. It’s a renaissance of spirit in which more and more people are seeking deeper happiness and inner peace, and embracing timeless qualities such as compassion, integrity and courage.

The following is a beginning list of 22 personal development blogs I enjoy  – some large, some small — that have “heart” and in their own unique ways are offering real help to people in these troubled times. I hope you will enjoy checking out  these blogs too.

 1. http://www.lessordinaryliving.com

“A guide for people who believe that life is too short to be ordinary,” says entrepreneur and coach Phil Bolton. He lives in London, where I grew up. A great place to visit, but I am sold now on the sunshine in Colorado…haven’t used my umbrella since I got here.

2. http://www.realsimplepeople.com

Just seeing John Sherry’s smiling picture on his blog is enough to make your day.

3. http://www.urbanmonk.net

This blog has such a genuine, helpful feel to it – must be because my friend Albert, who runs it, is one of the most genuine and helpful people I have met across this wild ocean we call the internet.

4. http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog

This blog is becoming a second home to me. Steven is a true and generous friend and his determination to be a blessing to his world in whatever way he can is a beacon to many people, certainly including me.

5. http://www.everydaygyaan.com

Sometimes you don’t entirely know why you feel such a strong connection with another person you’ve never even met. It’s just there. Gyaan, in Hindu, means “wisdom” — and everyday wisdom is what my friend Corinne shares with her happy readers.

 6. http://www.thesecondhalfofmylife.com

Marion is a coach who writes about “success tactics for the game of life.” I was touched by this excerpt from one of her testimonials, “Marion is just what you need if you are struggling with goals, or feeling that life is an uphill battle…”

7. http://www.aflourishinglife.com

Gail Brenner offers “Practical wisdom for Clarity, Freedom and Happiness.” Such a fine blog, imbued with a deep love for enduring peace. Gail believes in examining even our most cherished beliefs and facing painful emotions “without the drama”.

8. http://www.alexshalman.com

Alex offers posts on practical personal development. A recent headline: “7 ways to cultivate the ultimate personal freedom through minimalism.”

9. http://www.lifehack.org

A heavyweight blog with numerous well-known contributors.

10. http://www.marcandangel.com

Marc and Angel promise you will not find a “regurgitation of someone else’s point of view” on their well-known site.

11. http://www.lifeoptimizer.org

A quality blog by Donald Latumahina, who lives in Indonesia. He shares his deep passion for information technology and personal development.

12. http://www.thechangeblog.com

Peter started blogging in 2007 to share his story of personal change. It’s now a multi-author site. Peter lives in Vancouver, one of the most beautiful cities in the world where I once met an English lord and rancher (turned spiritual teacher) who changed my life forever…

13. http://www.thistimethisspace.com

“Timethief,” as she calls herself, has a fierce determination to be of service to others and to her world and it lights up her blog.

14. http://www.lionslinger.com

Walter showed up at my blog one day expressing appreciation for my message so of course I knew right away he is intelligent, charming and very wise. His message:”Life is all lessons—ignorance is not a destiny.”

15. http://www.nakedineden.com

Robin Easton is a remarkable woman who enjoys running barefoot up mountains and communing with wild creatures in the middle of the Daintree rainforest of Australia. Such a warm, generous heart, who empowers everyone she meets.

16. http://www.Julianamatthews.net

In her welcome message, Juliana says: “I write about recovery from addiction, getting the most out of life, laughter, gratitude and developing spiritual balance. Always from the heart, always honest.” Sums up what this world needs doesn’t it?

17. http://www.liveboldandbloom.com

Barrie Davenport writes about “Personal growth for fearless living.” I found out about Barrie through a guest post she wrote for Problogger, Darren Rowse’s hugely helpful site, entitled “Reach out and touch someone: How the power of personal connection creates blogging success.”

18. http://www.illuminatedmind.net

“Don’t read this website if you want ordinary,” declares Jonathan. I love another of his remarks:” We’re born free but as we become domesticated we lose our authenticity.” More power to you Jonathan.

19. http://www.zenhabits.net

“Smile, breathe and go slowly,” advises Leo Babauta. His blog — one of the top 100 blogs in the world – is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s a message that resonates far and wide and Leo is a true leader.

20. http://www.dragosroua.com

Dragos was a Romanian soldier in the Romanian revolution in 1989. Now he puts his courage and his heart into a blog that’s well worth a bit of anyone’s time. His most visited post was entitled “100 ways to live a better life.”

21. http://www.kikolani.com

Kristi Hines describes herself as a happily married, artistic girl geek from the Southwest. She brings a wide range of interests and skills to her blog.

22. http://www.thehappyseeker.com

Hmm. Okay to include my own blog in this list? Heck, why not? I’ll stand up straight, pull my shoulders back, and be proud to be part of this fine family of writers and explorers and friends. I write about happiness and inner peace, and the timeless, unconquerable  being who we truly are.

Picture credit: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3470215286_8b854dceab_m.jpg

22 favorite personal growth blogs: which one could change your life? is a post from: The Happy Seeker - Happiness inner peace

True, with more and more people demanding immediate gratification it might seem patience has become obsolete.

But whatever your age, and whatever your life situation, nurturing this calm and noble quality will yield the same rich rewards today that it always has throughout the entire run of human history.

Of course, it goes without saying that patience can never really be isolated from any of the other qualities of our own true character. “Patience is the companion of wisdom,” said St. Augustine, and he was absolutely right. Patience needs the balance of wisdom – and it needs the balance of courage too.

Here are 5 reasons why the power of patience is so important in your life.

 1. You need the power of patience to fulfill your dreams.

If you are short of patience, even though your dream may be an admirable one, you will simply not have the strength and persistence necessary to sustain you through the inevitable disappointments and setbacks that life brings.

2. You need patience to become whole.

 What was true in ages past is still true today. “Let patience have her perfect works, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

 3. Patience is required to fully forgive.

Often, we may think we have forgiven someone – perhaps God himself – for some past injustice, but then the pain and resentment rise up in us again. Do we give up, and allow negative emotions to fester freely in us until we die?

Or do we summon the Angel of patience to our aid and forgive at a deeper level?

4. Patience makes it possible to see another person in a truer light.

It takes time and perseverance to see through our first impressions — which may or may not be all that accurate – and come to know the real person behind the outer mask.

 5. The power of patience nourishes all other human virtues.

As St. Augustine suggested, if we want to develop wisdom, we will need the help of its companion, patience. Or how about compassion? Perhaps some people are born with naturally compassionate natures — but it’s my guess that even compassion needs the nourishment of patience at times.

Perhaps patience is in my mind at the moment because JoAnn and I are still hard at work making improvements to our new home. Fortunately the well of patience hasn’t run dry yet…

If you have a story to share concerning the power of patience in your life I’d love to hear it. If you enjoyed this article, please consider subscribing to my blog.

Picture credit: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/61/218202579_679ffa0720_m.jpg

Power of patience critical to lasting happiness is a post from: The Happy Seeker - Happiness inner peace

I’m reminded of this simple truth each morning when I step outside to admire the magnificent blue spruce tree that grows just outside our front door.

There are at least five ways in which this noble tree teaches me and inspires me. I thought I would outline them for you because I believe they are very relevant to us as we seek to find our place or keep our footing in this rapidly changing world.

1. It does not resist life.

When the weather is kind, and the air is still, the blue spruce tree is also still, and peaceful — unmoving.

But the tree trusts God. It is not attached to peacefulness. When a storm blows up — as can happen very quickly here in the foothills of the Rockies — its branches move effortlessly back and forth, offering no resistance to even the fiercest gusts.

 2. It is content to be where it is.

The close proximity of this beautiful tree was a big plus for me when we first considered buying our new home.

How glad and thankful I am that it trusts God and is content to prosper and grow where it is planted. Because of this I know that the blue spruce tree will still be there this evening when I go outside and sit on my bench again to admire it.

Even so, let us trust God and grow where we are planted – in the fertile soil of our own timeless, untouchable being.

 3. It is persistent.

Because it trusts God, the blue spruce tree — one of my best friends in all the natural world — just keeps growing no matter what.

But we have a responsibility to keep growing too, don’t we?

4. It connects earth and sky.

The blue spruce tree is a bridge between earth and sky. It reminds me that this is my purpose also — to trust God in my living, and be a bridge between the world of spirit and the external world.

 5. Last but not least — the tree inspires by its presence.

What draws me to the blue spruce? Why is it so beautiful? Why does it evoke in me such strong feelings of love and admiration?

This tree is utterly mute insofar as words go. It inspires by its presence –  something sweet, strong, and unconquerable, characterized by love and trust and respect for a larger whole that ultimately is indefinable.

Picture credit:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4400881070_213c73f19c_m.jpg

Trust God: 5 things we can learn from a blue spruce tree is a post from: The Happy Seeker - Happiness inner peace

The post is about the power of kindness and its potential to transform our lives – not by fighting with our circumstances but by expressing a strong, kindhearted spirit in the little moments of everyday living.

Title of the post is: “Looking for peace in troubled times?” It’s still up at Steven’s blog and I’d be tickled pink if you hop on over and take a look at it.

Power of kindness in action

Part of the magic that I touched yesterday was reading and responding to the many people — 16 at last count — who wrote a comment in response to the post I had written.

As I read the various comments I was touched by a common theme that ran through each one, to let our life be truly worthwhile, and to express the power of kindness and compassion in the little moments of our lives.

Where truth and integrity are held dear

I’ve been convinced for a long time that there is a body of people in this world spread across every continent and culture in whom truth and integrity are held dear no matter what is happening in the external environment.

The following words from one of the comments speak for this unknown but vitally important, utterly unconquerable tribe:

“In this manic modern world full of a drive for having, wanting and getting, simple human attributes such as kindness have gone off the radar. Posts like yours hopefully will change that. Kindness brings us together, connects us, and breaks down barriers of all types. We need to be more kind because, after all, we are one race called humanKIND. It’s a clue about what we are really here for.”

Kindness cannot be forced

As was emphasized in many of the comments, kindness cannot be forced but must appear naturally. In this regard I love the following quote from A Kinder World.

“One cannot invent kind acts by searching for people to be kind to or by brainstorming ideas about kindness. Life is all around us and all life needs kindness…. most of the time, it just takes a tiny word, a scribbled line of thought, an act of sympathy, a smile or a nod in the right time and place to bring sunshine to the life of another person.”

Welcome to my blog

I express my deep gratitude to Steven Aitchison for publishing my guest post on the power of kindness, and thank all those who read the article  or comment on it. Also, a warm welcome to those who visit my blog after reading it.

Power of kindness can change your life is a post from: The Happy Seeker - Happiness inner peace