I dreamed that I was sitting on a warm sandy beach as white-capped waves gently kissed my feet. Spellbound, I watched puffy white clouds billow across an endless blue sky. Suddenly, I felt the cool touch of metal against my thigh and then something washed gently into my lap. Looking down I realized that it was Aladdin’s lamp. Without hesitation, I rubbed the lamp; no sooner had I done so when a circle of greenish smoke or, perhaps, ectoplasm formed into the shape of a mighty genie. The genie spoke to me in a voice I could hear only inside my head, “I will grant you a single wish and no more, so choose wisely”. I asked for the one thing I have always sought, but never obtained. I asked for happiness.
Embrace Change
Confucius materialized and told me, “The one who would be in constant happiness must frequently change”. Heraclitus appeared nodding his head in agreement and saying, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” Then I spoke asking this question, “Are you saying that since the circumstances of my life are always changing, I too must also be willing to change in order to remain happy? Then Confucius and Heraclitus smiled knowingly and ascended to the heavens.
Neither run to or from happiness
As I meditated on that thought, I closed my eyes and when I had reopened them Lao Tzu was standing in front of me. Lao Tzu spoke in a soft but clear voice, “Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness”. Why should I not seek happiness greedily? In an instant, Henry David Thoreau appeared and said, “Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder…”
Happy Thoughts
As Thoreau walked away, I thought to myself, but what is the source of happiness? In answer to this unspoken meditation, the Buddha materialized. He also addressed me saying, “The mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness”. No sooner had he spoken, James Allen appeared and said “As a man thinketh so is he”. “Ah, thoughts that I choose to think have the power to bring me happiness”, as this thought floated gently through my mind I began to smile.
Then I deeply reflected on the words of Confucius, Heraclitus, Lao Tzu, Thoreau, Buddha and James Allen. The secret of happiness is to (1) embrace change, (2) neither run to or from happiness and (3) to simply think happy thoughts. – Alas, now I am awake and I steadfastly refuse to follow the advice of sages.
Lance Morton - Lance Morton is a writer, hypnotists, personal fitness trainer, and the author of Mentally Create your Ideal Weight.
