What if you are sitting at work one day, very hungry, and decide that after finishing work in two hours time, you'll go to your favourite restaurant and eat fried chicken. You mentally picture yourself in the restaurant eating the chicken and the thought of it makes you happy.
So now fried chicken is making you happy... but you haven't actually got any fried chicken, yet, it's the thought of it that's making you happy.
So is that where happiness and unhappiness is, in our thoughts?
Say there's someone at work that you hate. There's a terrible chemistry between the two of you, and every time you meet, a screaming argument ensues. One day you have a particularly bad fight, it's so aggressive that four hours afterwards you are at home, mentally reviewing the fight, and feeling as angry as hell. What's making you angry at that exact moment? It can't be your adversary, because you're alone at home and they're not there. It must be the thought of them.
From this, can we say that emotions are inside our thoughts?
Well, why don't you just look for yourself? Think of something that can make you feel happy right now, a future holiday, good friend, recent accomplishment or whatever. You create thoughts and mental pictures all the time, did you ever wonder how? Exactly, how do you decide that you want to think a certain thing, and then 'create' mental pictures. Look into your mind and create mental pictures that make you happy. You kind of just will, or expect, the mental pictures to come, and they do.
So now you're sitting there happy. Mental pictures and happiness exist in you. Is the happiness inside the mental pictures? If you turn the mental pictures off, does the happiness instantly recede?
Imagine you received a letter in the post that informs you that you've won a million dollars in the lottery. You have all sorts of mental pictures which cause happiness: you on a yacht, you living in a mansion, you going skiing in the alps.
However, you earlier promised a sick neighbour that you would go and supervise the landscape gardeners for her that afternoon. So now you go over and do what has to be done. There's no time for mental pictures, the job at hand takes full concentration
But there's a spring in your step. You constantly smile. You're friendly and enthusiastic to everyone.
You're happy.
So, if happiness is not in any thoughts, mental pictures or objects... where is it exactly? More importantly, what is it exactly?
Make yourself happy with a mental picture. Let the picture fade and observe the happiness that lingers. What is it, alone, all by itself, in essence? If you really, really look, it's a vague physical sensation, and a kind of 'invisible upliftedness' in the mind.
Do the same with a negative emotion. Think of something that makes you angry, then observe the anger alone. Is it any more definite than happiness?
If emotions aren't indelibly linked to anything, then are they under our control? Do we need a reason to be happy?
In the same way that it's possible to create thoughts and mental pictures by just willing, or expecting, them, can you create the vagueness that is happiness, anger, grief, joy or whatever, without mental pictures, without reasons.?
If emotions are free, can you dance with them? Can you think of things that make you happy while feeling sad on purpose. Can you think of things that make you sad while feeling happy on purpose?
If emotions are free and you can dance in your mind, can you dance in the world?
Could your life be a dance?
J. Lowet is a full-time writer, specialising in human potential.
Join Us
Fall Meeting October 30 -31 & Novermber 1 - 2 , 2010
We welcome anybody that wants to start a Withdraw Center or wants to join the Oregon Coastal Center. There are no dues, fees or costs.
We will be holding two identical Sessions this fall. One session on the weekend and one during the week. Both Sessions will be about our experiences with our Peaceful Preparer Center, our plans, our dreams, our fears, and brainstorming.
There is no charge for either Session if you provide your own lodging. If you want to stay at the meeting resort, the following is the pricing for Eagle Crest lodging.
We ARE NOT “back to landers.” We do not want the hardships of homestead. Instead, we like our comforts and are willing to prepare for them to continue. That is why we have picked the Eagle Crest Resort for our First Annual Fall Meeting. The Eagle Crest Resort has all the comforts you want in a resort. Just check the features of Eagle Crest Resort
If two people want to share a bedroom, then both can attend the Sessions with no additional fees. The bedrooms vary with king size beds, queen size beds and twin beds.
The early bird gets their choice.
Session # I - October 30 - 31, 2010 2 nights ($100/night*) - Starts on Friday night October 30 at 7 pm and last until 11 am on Sunday November 1, 2010.
Session #2 - November 1 - 2, 2010 - 2 nights ($100/night*) - This part starts on Sunday night and 7 pm and last until Wednesday at 11 am.
*Lodging Scholarships are available.
The above fees include lodging at the Eagle Crest at Redmond, Oregon (11 miles from Bend, Oregon)
