One practical way towards everyday happiness is to align with life's energies. So often we resist and fight what life has to offer, rather than embrace and harmonize with it.
I recently heard an interview with a very successful businessman saying something along the lines of, "Life is a constant struggle and you need to wake up every day and fight it or else it's gonna knock you down!"
For me, it was alarming that he, someone respected by so many as a model of success, was preaching this on a widely broadcasted podcast. I understand his perspective, and I recognize that he's completely entitled to his viewpoint. It's similar to when people feel they need anger in order to be successful. However, I don't agree with what he said.
It's not true that life must be a struggle.
We need to take a step back. First of all, what is successful? Remember that we're all just trying to be okay inside, and most of us are going about it in the wrong way. I've talked about this in countless other posts.
The idea that we have to fight with life in order to get ahead, is just silly. Even "getting ahead." What does that mean?
We need to change the conversation of how to be happy. How can we practice honoring where life takes us instead of fighting with it?
Here's a fun fact. Did you know that the universe has been around for 13.8 billion years? You may think it only exists while you're alive, but actually, it has and always will be around regardless of your existence.
Do you really think you have to fight with it in order to lead a good life? Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, the universe knows what it's doing, and if you learned to honor it, to harmonize with it, to embrace it and to participate in it, then you'd realize that all of life is a blessing, that all of life is beautiful, that even the ugly things are beautiful?
Because if God made the sunshine, he also made the rain. If God made pleasure, he also made pain. Neither are more beautiful, more life, than the other. They're just different.
You don't get to choose which one to have. That's why you think you need to fight. "More of the good, less of the bad!" you say. But you realize you're fighting with the universe. You're fighting against something so, so, so much bigger than yourself, all because you're just trying to feel good inside.
When it's all said and done, the truth is, you're fighting an unnecessary fight with yourself. You are the universe. You are part of that bigger picture. Your mind is just telling you otherwise, and you haven't learned to observe it objectively. Instead, you've identified with it.
We're here for just a tiny fraction of a sliver of existence on the vast plane of the universe. I'm pretty sure the universe knows what it's doing. Are you saying you know more than it does?
Honor it! Respect it! Embrace it! Go with the flow, and make every moment a new opportunity to find fulfillment.
You're allowed to feel good without fighting. You're allowed to feel inner peace no matter what. You're allowed to show up to any moment life presents you filled with joy, love, and enthusiasm, and then raise that moment up just a little higher than when it found you.
I'm not saying it's easy, or that I've mastered it. But neither is fighting with life every day.
Are you willing to learn how to do that? Or are you going to continue to fight the most silly fight you'll ever undertake?
Live with substance!
Gabe Orlowitz
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