There are many experiences in life that make us feel happy and fulfilled. For some it could be a hobby or activity that they do as a group. For others it’s something they do at home alone. Regardless of what the activity is, they lead to feeling happier as we are spending time doing something we care about. Maybe it’s writing, sewing, gardening, golfing, taking care of your grandkids. Perhaps it’s volunteering, coaching, building, traveling. Life is full of experiences that bring us joy and contentment.
When we find what makes us happy, it’s common sense to want to spend more time and energy doing what makes us feel great. We can feel better about ourselves when we are in positive environments that allow growth and expansion in our life. Follow your bliss is a saying that I’ve seen in many places from journals to bumper stickers. It’s great advice especially when we know what our bliss is.
For many people though they might question what is their bliss? What makes them happy? What do they desire from life? And what’s their purpose? These are huge questions to contemplate.
In yoga, we have a tool that is called a Sankalpa. It’s a Sanskrit word. Kalpa means vow, or “the rule to be followed above all other rules.” San refers to a connection with the highest truth. Sankalpa, then, is a vow and commitment we make to support our highest truth. The sankalpa becomes a statement you can call upon to remind you of your true nature and guide your choices.
When we spend time with ourselves, we can tap into the path that is ours. Sometimes life can feel underwhelming because we are wanting or grasping something that in the short term will deliver happiness but unfortunately, within time, we are out there again, searching for something that will make us feel complete.
Or we look at someone else’s life and compare our path to theirs. It's easy to look at someone else’s life and feel a twinge of jealousy. Maybe they seem to have it all together or they figured out what makes them happy. Perhaps they have a lifestyle that you wished you could live. Note that while it’s normal and very common to feel jealous, let’s also put it into perspective. That’s their life, their path, their journey. There is a saying “The grass is greener on the side that you water it.”
What if we are all here with a purpose? And the only person who can truly figure out what that is is us. Our family, friends, teachers can provide insight on what they see but we are the only ones who make the commitment to walk the talk.
I invite each of us to spend time this week, as the month of August winds down, think about what makes you feel alive. If you could choose what to do with your precious time, what would it be? Where do you feel the most like yourself?
Another saying that most of us know from the famous movie Forrest Gump. “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.”
There is so much out there. Many paths to find bliss. Work on creating your long term bliss by being in tune and connected to what makes you come alive. Find your highest truth among all the opportunities and options that life has to offer and do more of what makes you happy.
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