Happiness is a Consequence

TIPS FROM TARA: Happiness is a Consequence

Joy is not frivolous. Despite all sources to the contrary, joy is not a blissful state of ignorance experienced only by the irresponsible. It is not a fleeting luxury of childhood, or the 20's. It is not privately owned by the Pollyannas, nor is it a prize awarded by the stuff-acquiring puppeteers club. Oh no, joy is not frivolous at all.

In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert writes: "I keep remembering one of my Guru's teaching about happiness. She says that people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it."

Allow these words to resonate deep inside you. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings... YOU have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings... I have to PARTICIPATE relentlessly in the manifestations of my own blessings...

Joy is for everyone and anyone who ever wants to do something great. It is for anyone who wants to raise stable adaptable children. It's for anyone who wants to look back on their life and smile. Joy is the essential component of the creation of your best life. From joy, grows more joy. From joy, all of life's precious moments become timeless.

Maybe you find yourself fighting for it. Maybe you find yourself striving for it. Maybe you find yourself insisting upon it. Maybe you're searching for it. Or maybe you are making a mighty effort to maintain it.

Where ever you are in your personal quest for a joy-full life, consider the enormous value of setting aside an entire day to laugh by a lake with new friends in a Laughter Yoga class, and engage in playful tools and empowering exercises designed to let joy shine through you and manifest in the world. I hope you'll join us for a co-ed retreat on Saturday, June 28 where we will devote a full day to exploring and experiencing joy. Joy is the essential first step in manifesting your life dreams and goals. See below for details and registration.