Remember this…that very little is needed to make a happy life.
— Marcus Aurelius

Does this sound like you?

“When I (fill in the blank)…I will be happy.”

If you answered yes, I want you to think about this next question.

Are you really ever happy for long?

In a society that reinforces pleasure at every turn, it’s easy to feel like we can never find true happiness.

We spend our lives stuck in the belief that we will be happy at some point…some time in the future. Unfortunately, when the future arrives, we prolong that date to the next “when I, I will…” moment.

The key to finding true happiness is to learn to set it aside from pleasure. It is then that true happiness can emerge.

So just what is the difference between happiness and pleasure?

Pleasure is linked to desire, and arises in response to having a specific desire fulfilled.

It can be the desire for anything from making more money to eating that piece of chocolate cake you crave.

Happiness is a state of contentment not based on desire.

It is rooted in the present moment. Future desires and needs are not contingent on how happy we are right now.

Pleasure is a short term thing. But happiness is a constant.
The two are not related, but we often think they are.

Don’t get me wrong…there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking pleasure, as long as it does not cause harm to ourselves our others. However, we must seek happiness as a constant state aside from pleasure.

So how do you do this?

To find happiness aside from pleasure, we must learn to see pleasure for what it is. Pleasure is simply a short term, positive feeling. It is not right or wrong.

The problem lies in that we tend to cling to pleasure.

We don’t want to lose that good feeling. This is why we always want more of whatever it is that gives us pleasure.

The key to detaching from this need for more is to experience pleasure fully without clinging to it. We must enjoy it and then let it go.

This isn’t easy to do. You see, even when we realize that pleasure isn’t happiness, we still tend to believe that happiness comes from external conditions and situations. In part, this is because everything (including us) is impermanent.

In addition, our thoughts still lead us to believe that happiness is something you can get from somewhere, sometime in the future.

This is where mindfulness comes into play. Happiness is found in understanding that we can only inhabit the present moment. In the now, we find the true happiness we seek.

In closing, I want you to think about this…

Happiness is simple, silent, and subtle. It is there-hiding in the wings. It is within you today.

Exercise One

Think about areas where you have confused pleasure and happiness. When have you said “when I, I will…?”

If you feel comfortable, journal or take notes. Write about how you can redirect your focus to the present moment and happiness in the now.

Exercise Two

Now it’s time to meditate. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Today, I want you to meditate on allowing yourself to be happy right here, right now. Use the mantra “I am happy now, today, just as I am.”

As you begin your meditation, notice when you feel resistance arise. This is natural. Negative thoughts may come up. When this happens, redirect your focus to the breath and your mantra.

Congratulations on completing day seven of this mindfulness meditation challenge. Well done, my friends! See you tomorrow…