Greed and happiness
Is our greed stopping us from being happy?
— Vladimir Putin
We all want to be happy, right?
It sometimes seems the more we try to make ourselves happy, our behaviour and activity causes other’s to be unhappy or ourselves to be more stressed. By flipping the mind around we can slowly begin to achieve our objective.
Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things you are grateful for can help shift your perspective and increase your sense of well-being. Try keeping a gratitude journal, where you write down a few things you are thankful for each day. When thinking of all the things that you are grateful for, it’s often other’s kindness that brings about our greatest gratitude.
With that in mind, try being that ‘other person’. It’s in showing kindness to others that we lose our greed - our need and speed.
As Venerable Nick reminded us in ‘Reduce This One Thing’,
“increase gratitude and decrease greed. These two things must go in tandem for sustainable happiness to arise”.
Engage in self-care: Taking care of your physical and emotional needs can help you feel more grounded and resilient. This might include activities like exercise, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, or finding ways to relax and de-stress. I always think ‘Air, Water, Slow down’.
Connect with others: Building and maintaining social connections is an important part of feeling happy and fulfilled. Try to make time for relationships with friends and loved ones, and consider seeking out supportive communities or therapy groups if you're feeling isolated. AA members aren’t the only sober alcoholics, but I reckon they’re happier than some because of the community they share.
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves bringing your attention to the present moment, without judgement. This can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, and better able to manage them. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, such as through meditation, yoga, or simply paying attention to your breath or surroundings. Steve Biddulph, in his new book ‘Fully Human’, urges us to notice what we are smelling right now and the sounds around us. This simple ‘Stop and Do’ practice can bring you back to your body, right here and now.
I love to utilise the mindfulness meditation courses that Sean Fargo publishes - here is one you can try on gratitude.
Seek help if you need it: It's okay to ask for help when you're feeling vulnerable. There are many resources available, such as therapy or counselling, that can provide support and guidance. Don't be afraid to reach out if you need it.
Lifeline AUS. 131114
Lifeline Aotearoa - 0800543354
Mental Health Hotline USA 866-903-3787
In UK - NHS service, text "SHOUT" to 85258 for free from all major UK mobile networks.
In Canada, try - https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html
In summary, to maximise our happiness, we can practise gratitude and reduce our greed.
shift perspective
be kind to others
engage in self-care
be mindful
seek help
love alwaz,
mike