Secrets of Spiritual Happiness

Secret #32 -- Things Don't Have to Be So Hard

 

    

 

By Sharon Janis

The good, the bad, hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life.

  -Jacqueline Kennedy

 

Many spiritual books, including this one, tell us that we should learn to grow from our pain and to bear all the obstacles of life with faith in the ultimate goodness and perfection of this universe. However, it is important to realize that we can grow, not only through hardship, but also through joy.  

One of the main secrets of spiritual happiness is that things don't have to be so hard. Spirituality doesn't have to be so hard.   Life doesn't have to be so hard.   Learning our lessons doesn't have to be so hard.   Some people always seem to look at life through the glasses of "everything is hard," and you can be sure that such glasses are bound to affect their experience of happiness and unhappiness.

One fairly advanced level of spiritual growth is to learn to be happy even during trials and tribulations.   However, even if we're not always able to stay perfectly happy during bad times, we can at least learn to be happy when things are going well!   I know people who have great blessings in their lives, but who complain about being depressed and appear to be much more upset about their few challenges than grateful for their massive blessings.  

Some people even find that they are actually happier during tough times, because their appreciation for small and large blessings becomes more sensitized and awakened.   Challenges may require us to drop our layers of superficial boredom and dissatisfaction and to draw upon inner resources of strength, fortitude, courage, gratitude, wisdom, prayer, and a positive mindset.  

If we can't be happy even when things are going well, then what option does our kind and loving destiny have but to try another approach and shake us into gratitude and happiness through trauma?

In fact, troubles and strife can become somewhat of a habit for some folks. They can give a rush of mental energy, and a stimulus of emotions, and therefore, these catastrophe rushes can actually become addictive habits.   Don't you know some people who seem to just land in one tragedy after the other?   I've seen some like this, and it's almost like God is using these tragedies as a medicine to shake them into wakefulness, or to help them to feel more alive.

Nevertheless, with spiritual practices and wisdom, we can learn to create the same kind of excitement, enthusiasm, and growth inside ourselves without having to go through so many hard times.

Remember, sometimes life is hard, and sometimes life is not so hard.   When it is not so hard, don't make it hard!  

 

 

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