3 Keys To Happiness

Bo Lozoff wrote that there are three messages woven through all of the spiritual wisdoms that would help lead to happiness.

The first is to be cautious of materialism. Be careful of what you want and live a simple life. We've all seen the trappings of consumerism. Christmas shoppers being mauled during Black Friday like the running of the bulls. Shoppers leaving box stores and loading up trucks and SUVs with gigantic purchases, and our landfills overflowing with those same purchases a short time later.

For me, living a simple life means reducing those moments. We all make compromises in life, but I have tried to make a stand during holidays to not engage in exchanging gifts. I insist on nothing but warm wishes for birthdays and try to consume only what I need. This also means gifting older items to those in need or recycling to help preserve resources.

The second message is to dedicate yourself to something you truly believe in. Find a cause, a practice or a movement you think is beautiful and important and devote the time, energy and resources to engage in it deeply. I am searching for this - I am back at church and engaging in community there. I am also exploring options with NH Listens. I am ready to energize myself with a devotion to something beautiful.

The third message is to establish a spiritual practice and commit to it on a daily basis. Being still and listening. Seeking answers from within. My practice is a combination of writing, music, exercise and meditation. The meditation is the most important. I spend 30 minutes a day in quiet meditation looking for guidance from within.

How am I doing? How is my practice going? I think I'm nibbling at the edges on the verge of a breakthrough. I am moving to 60 minutes of meditation a day by using a scheduling system. Not rote practice, but a way to structure my time to ensure that I invest in what I truly want first, and then let the spontaneous emerge while my state of mind is more healthy.

This is my plan for April. Become more structured with my approach, but leave lots of room for experimentation in the practice and emergence of new thinking.