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You Have The Right To Choose Happiness

Guest post by: Geoffrey Canavan

Article Overview: The recent tragic death of the very talented Whitney Houston got me thinking about how so many of us are unaware that we are all born to be happy and are tuned into the dark and difficult aspects of life, remaining blind to our innate beauty

You Have The Right To Choose Happiness

I was recently reading about the life of a gifted musician and songwriter who seemed to be blind to his own genius. Even though his arrangements and guitar playing are highly original and creative and his lyrics are beautifully poetic he never felt good enough. For him this belief was endorsed by the fact that fame and riches eluded him. He died aged 26 in the 1970’s, from an overdose of antidepressants. He could not see beyond his ‘one step from meltdown’ state and yet, over three decades after his death, his music still sounds fresh and contemporary and continues to influence and inspire songwriters and musicians like Paul Weller, David Gray and REM.

This musician was much more aware of and in touch with what he perceived as his failed self.

What was clear to other people was invisible to him.

He could not see the perfection and potential that was so obvious to everyone else and the result was a sad loss.

The saddest loss of all was the fact that he never really found the truth of himself in his own lifetime. Had he been aware of just how wonderful and how unconditionally true his words and music were he would have lived a far less tortured existence and would have had a much greater sense of just how beautiful and true his ability as a person was.

It is always easier to see the greatness in others as we deny our selves the real gift of our selves and what we are, regardless of our environment and needs.

To me this man’s story is a reflection of the sadness that we all can feel as we sometimes lose touch with the truth of what we are. As we see the evidence of sadness and loss in others we merely acknowledge the reflection of a loss we have felt about our selves in our own journey through life.

It’s far too easy to let the world seem to do its dirty job and to descend into a spiral of out of control hopelessness where our ‘destiny’ and ‘fate’ lie in the hands of everyone and everything beyond our ability to provide our own redemption.

In misery, I stand alone. In true awareness, I am at one with the will of my heart and self. In the frightening chaos of what life can sometimes present to us it becomes so easy to lose that sense of self that should be cherished, understood and held in a sanctuary of completion.

We can all identify with a life that has made us weary but hope is the start of the process of illumination and a true willingness for change becomes the completion.

That young musician lost his life to the sadness of losing himself but left the world with an abundance of truth and honesty in his music and words. His immense success after his death is an expression of all our willingness to witness and appreciate honesty. The honesty that is found in his music (which now has world acclaim) is also to be found in all our hearts, but be prepared to share the experience of truth in everything you do and in every way you decide to live.

Nothing has a greater attraction or greater appeal than the charisma of splendid honesty where shadows are no longer a road map to sorrow. Be the successful expression of everything you are. Learn to listen to your self as you educate your self to the greatness of your own song. Do not deny the reality of your potential to be the wonderful person you already are.

The musician I was reading about did it through his words and music. As an example to your self, live your life where unconditionally you are no longer prepared to withhold everything that is the true essence of all the beauty you are.

Taking ownership of your own success is crucial, even if all you can manage right now is the first baby step of having the willingness to wake up one day and say ‘yes I want to break this cycle and I am prepared to somehow try to see my world from a different perspective. I want to stop this self defeat and I can start today. I can adjust my vision and get a better view of what is going on.’

Clichéd as it may sound, today really is the first day of the rest of your life. Inspire your self in the knowledge and belief that you can create a different world than the one you have come to know.

Be fearless in your choice to find your own freedom. Do not put a value on the invaluable self that is You. Invaluable means no limitations. Value sets a limit. Be priceless in your own self-worth.

You do not leave self-doubt by bringing it to somewhere else. There is no somewhere else. You leave it by simply understanding the power of your ability to choose.

You have the right to choose happiness.

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Article Tags: choice, choose, cycle, happiness, honesty, selfbelief, talent, truth



Related Forum Posts
Re: The secret to happiness - Happiness comes from within. We choose whether we want to be happy or not. Circumstances can influence our feelings, but in the end, it's up to us how we deal with our circumstances, positively or negatively. I admire anyone who can stay strong and be happy through adversity. There will always be challenges that we face, but I believe that if we face them with our heads held high, the odds of overcoming them are much greater. This reminds me of the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness." Happiness spelled wrong for a reason. One of Will Smith's greatest movies. I encourage you all to watch it as it's very inspiring.
Re: Are you really happy? - So true Yinka. Happiness comes from within. MichelleJ
Re: The secret to happiness - Happiness is working on the job you love. I forgot who said this, "give a man the job he loves doing and he will ever work again in his life"
Re: Are you really happy? - Happiness is not in things or should not be in things but in you
Re: The secret to happiness - [quote="barrysarner":2awy1urv]I agree and happiness is different for every individual.[/quote:2awy1urv] Happiness is something that comes from within each person it not something that we can find externally. Something from outside such as an exciting event or a new car can make us happy, but this is a fleeting emotion. True happiness is within each person if we choose to it over misery. MichelleJ


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