Stuff

Jim Carrey was a presenter at this year’s Golden Globes awards.  I came across his presentation on Facebook.  Somebody posted it saying “Jim Carrey was way funnier than Ricky Gervais,” or something like that.  I decided to watch.  If you haven’t see it, watch it here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uevbPqes7Wo

What you may not know about Jim Carrey is that he is a dedicated and long-time practitioner of Transcendental Meditation.  His entire bit at the Golden Globes was revealing a very important Truth.  You will never find lasting happiness in “stuff,” even Golden Globe awards.  Yet, you can tell by the laughter (and the comment of the Facebook poster of the video) how many people missed that message.

My wife and I are closing on our first home later this month.  We are very excited!  I’m very happy that we’ll soon be home owners.  That happiness will not last.  In fact, I’ve already had the experience of it lessening.  I’m still very excited.  I’ll still very much enjoy owning my own home and the financial benefits that come from it.  But the “I’m happy because I’m buying a house” is already leaving...before we’ve even technically purchased the house.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that.  Rather than having that happiness leave and being confused about it, I’m clear.  The house will not make me happy.

The only thing that will ever truly bring happiness, lasting happiness, to you is you.  It is an inside job.  Whether you use Transcendental Meditation as part of your practice to find it, some other form of mediation, or some other practice entirely doesn’t matter.  All that matters is that all the happiness you will ever experience, far more happiness that you could possibly imagine, already exists.  It exists as you.  Your job is not go searching for it in physical things.  Your job is to uncover it, to open to the experience of it.  How do you do this?  First, remind yourself over and over again, happiness is inherent in who I am.  I am happiness.  Happiness is always available.  Second, find a way to connect to it.  Meditation is a great practice to help clear away the clutter.  Selfless service is another.  Third, any time you find yourself feeling happy, explore it.  Where do you feel happy, where does that feeling originate from?  What does that happy feeling have to say?  If it could speak, what would it say?  Get familiar with your happiness.  

Stuff will never bring lasting happiness.  Only recognizing the happiness that you are will do that.  There is a plethora of other ways to work on recognizing that you are happiness incarnate. Find what works for you and work it.  The only thing you have to lose is unhappiness...