We are an outward-focused species. We believe that fortunate circumstances will make us happy. On vacation, we’re supposed to be happy and the rest of the year is supposed to be a struggle.
But what kind of life will we lead when only the extraordinary brings us joy?
Whatever we do frequently becomes ordinary, so even the extraordinary will quickly become dull to us.
Rather than waiting for an extraordinary vacation to be happy, we need to pay attention to our internal state of being on an ordinary day. This is where the quality of our lives will be measured.
It’s great when everything in life goes great and is constantly stimulating and exciting, but if we neglect our internal situation, we will not even be able to enjoy the good times, let alone the challenging times.
It is not the external circumstances of our lives that create the conditions for happiness. It is our internal environment. We need to sweep out the internal cobwebs, clean out the mental chaos, and let some fresh air in. We can’t always control what happens in our lives, but luckily, our mind is the one place we can control.
When was the last time you watched a sunset or sunrise? Could you watch it for more than a couple minutes before looking away? Most people’s minds are so chaotic, they can’t watch a sunset or look at the stars for more than a couple minutes before getting bored. If we can’t do that, how are we supposed to enjoy anything real in our lives?
We may walk around with our eyes open, but we are a species asleep at the wheel. But the solution is very simple: look within. Awaken to the dream you are living in. Pay attention to the narrator of your life. Notice its obsession with the outside world. Is out there so much more important than inside your body and mind? Where does true happiness really come from? When you discover the source of peace, happiness, love and gratitude within, the chaos out there won’t matter so much.
Recently, a dear friend who happens to be an extraordinary filmmaker asked if he could film me answering some questions about this very topic — the daydream through which we experience our lives, and more importantly, how we can awaken from it. He turned those answers into a beautiful masterpiece I couldn’t be more pleased with.
The premiere of the film, God’s Dream, will be today at 8am EST on YouTube. I’ll be watching it live with you to answer any questions you may have, respond to your comments and thoughts, or even your scathing criticisms and horrible insults (just kidding, I really think you’ll like it). Come by even just to say hi in the comments. Can’t wait to see you there.
Much love,
Todd
P.S. Here are a few other topics that I covered this week:
- What Happens When We Sit in Silence for an Extended Period of Time (Watch Here)
- 3-Step Process for Improving All Our Relationships (Listen Here)
3. How to Succeed Without Losing Your Peace (Read Here)
