what everyone seeks to experience in their life.

Individuals search for happiness throughout their entire life, looking in this direction and that direction. If you ask a 100 people what their definition of happiness is, you will get quite a variety of answers: being with their spouse or children; having a successful career; achieving a big dream they had; accumulating a pile of material possessions; being able to live in a large, expensive house; creating a great deal of money in the bank; purchasing that luxury or sports car they’ve always dreamed of owning; traveling everywhere they want to go; doing what they want to do, and so on. While these things can certainly bring some happiness to us, in the blink of an eye they can be taken away from us, for they are all temporary. So does that mean that our happiness exits as well?

As human beings we certainly will feel sadness or devastation at the loss of any of the above mentioned things. All of us have lost something during our lifetime that we cherished and have had to deal with the feelings we experienced, but did you loose your happiness?

Happiness gives you a feeling of great pleasure, contentment and joy. A happy person is a positive person with a positive attitude that radiates from within them. People usually choose to hang out with the happy person rather than the scowling individual because the happy person lifts them up and makes them feel better; it’s as if being near them allows the happiness to rub off on them. But what about the individual who has just suffered a great loss and is having a tough time handling it? Don’t they have the right to feel their pain? Won’t it be impossible to feel happiness at this time?

Certainly when tragedy or disappointment comes our way, we will experience some grieving time. In fact, it is necessary to do this for a short time rather than stepping into denial and sweeping our feelings under the rug. But does that mean we cannot be in a state of happiness as well?

Actually, happiness is an internal state of consciousness. It is something we choose to experience every day. It has nothing to do with the circumstances in our life or what is going on in our environment. This internal state of happiness allows us to be happy without any reason, just because we choose to be. And it always is your choice whether to be happy or not. You entered this life full of happiness, an expression of love, but if you accept a fear-based mindset you will cover up the happiness already within you.

Your happiness is who you really are, your real self. It has no identity with your possessions, relationships, achievements, or even your physical self. Your happiness is your inner state of being that is inborn within you and is always there in the inner recesses of your consciousness. You can ignore it of course, and accept the world’s view of what happiness is, but the things you hang onto can easily prove to be disappointing, break apart, fade, or even disappear from your life. Look at it this way. See your inner state of happiness as a cake and the tangible possessions, achievements and relationships as the icing on the cake. The icing adds much more to the cake, but the cake is the real substance.

Perhaps you don’t know who you truly are and therefore cannot seem to find happiness. The only way to understand your real self is to quiet your mind, and the best way to do that is through meditation. Meditation is one of the most powerful ways to awaken to who you really are and go beyond the whirling thoughts and emotions that can keep you stuck. Meditation can pace you and help you get quiet in the midst of a noisy, busy world. It has been said that a 30-60 minute deep meditation is equal to several hours of restful sleep.

But meditation is quite difficult for some people to facilitate since they have trouble getting their mind quiet. What I’ve learned on my journey is to quit trying so hard to do things a certain way. Just sitting quietly for five to ten minutes is a simple way to begin – no rules – just sit where you cannot be disturbed. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, focusing on the breath – slowly, in and out. When thoughts come into your mind simply acknowledge them and let them pass on through. It takes practice to accomplish because you are so used to allowing your thoughts to race through your mind. When you get quiet you are better able to remember your true self and tap into the happiness that already resides within you.

Then it’s all up to you. When you wake up in the morning you get to decide whether you will be happy on that day or not. It’s a simple choice that can create a great day or a real bummer day. And remember, it has nothing to do with what goes on around you. So if the traffic is terrible and people cut you off, or your dog gets loose and makes you late for work because you have to catch her, or you spill your coffee down the front of you and everyone sees the stain all day, or your friend stands you up for lunch, you can still be happy. It doesn’t mean you will like the situations that have come across your path, but remember, these have nothing to do with your internal happiness.

Happiness is the result of the internal knowing of your magnificence as a creation of the Creator and being part of the universal energy. Happiness radiates from you when you are serving others and living your purpose. Happiness shines through you when you remember that this is your true essence, being that happiness is an expression of love, and love is your essence. In this space you can live a life filled with joy because your happiness isn’t dependent on anything or anyone.

So I invite you to choose happiness for your life. The quest to find happiness is simply to go inward and reclaim what is already there. Be happy!

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Carolyn Porter is an internationally known speaker, author of multiple books, audios, trainings and e-Books that include "The Realness of a Woman, " "Healing with Color," “The Path of Empowerment” and "Adrenal Fatigue," spiritual wholeness coach, trainer and angel channel whose passion is helping individuals move beyond their limitations and help them see they can do and be what they can envision. She is owner of Where Miracles Happen Quantum Healing & Empowerment Center in Cumming, GA, and offers life and health coaching, angel sessions, energy healing, QRA Testing, Bemer sessions, classes, certified trainings and much more. For more information or to order her products she invites you to visit her website at wheremiracleshappen.com.