How to Be Happy Anytime
Post written by Leo Babauta.
My friend Barron recently asked, If you could be anywhere right now, doing anything you want, where would you be? And what would you be doing?
And my answer was, Im always where I want to be, doing what I want to be doing.
Ive notice that in the past, like many people, I was always wishing I was doing something different, thinking about what I would do in the future, making plans for my life to come, reading (with jealousy) about cool things other people were doing.
Its a fools game.
Many of us do this, but if you get into the mindset of thinking about what you *could* be doing, youll never be happy doing what you actually *are* doing. Youll compare what youre doing with what other people (on Facebook and Twitter, perhaps?) are doing. Youll wish your life were better. Youll never be satisfied, because theres *always* something better to do.
Instead, Ive adopted the mindset that whatever Im doing right now is perfect. If Im writing a post, thats amazing. If Im reading blog posts on the Internet, thats interesting. If Im doing nothing but hanging out with my family, thats incredible. If Im walking outside, enjoying the fresh air, thats beautiful.
Theres nothing Im ever doing that isnt the most incredible thing on Earth. If Im doing something sucky (I cant remember doing that recently), maybe thats an invaluable life lesson. If Im with someone boring or obnoxious, its a lesson in patience, or empathy, or in learning to understand people better.
The Now Mindset, In Practice
Lets say youre washing the dishes. Wouldnt you rather be having a delicious meal instead, or talking with your best friend? Sure, those things are great, but theyre only better if you believe theyre better, and more importantly, the comparison is totally unnecessary. Why should you compare what youre doing now (washing dishes) with anything else? Wouldnt almost anything lose out if you compare it t! o someth ing you like more? Will you ever be happy with what youre doing if you always compare it with something you like more?
Washing dishes can be as great as anything else, if you decide to see it that way. Youre in solitude, which is a beautiful thing. If you do it mindfully, washing dishes can be pleasant as you feel the suds and water in your hands, pay attention to the dish and its texture, notice your breathing and thoughts. Its meditation, its quiet, its lovely.
You can say the same of anything. Driving to work? Enjoy the solitude, the chance to be alone with your thoughts, or to listen to music you love, to see the world around you. In a meeting with co-workers? Pay attention to how people talk and interact, learn about the human mind, see yourself in everyone around you, learn to love anyone no matter who they are, practice giving up expectations of who people should be or what this meeting should be like.
Im always happy with what Im doing, because I dont compare it to anything else, and instead pay close attention to the activity itself. Im always happy with whoever Im with, because I learn to see the perfection in every person. Im always happy with where I am, because theres no place on Earth thats not a miracle.
Life will suck if you are always wishing youre doing something else. Life will rock if you realize youre already doing the best thing ever.
