Don't worry; be merry !

चित्ते प्रसन्ने भुवनं प्रसन्नं
चित्ते विषण्णे भुवनं विषण्णम् ।
अतोऽभिलाषो यदि ते सुखे स्यात्
चित्तप्रसादे प्रथमं यतस्व ॥

मन खुश हो, तो सारा जहां खुश लगता है । मन निराश हो, तो सारा जहां निराश लगता है । अतः यदि आप खुश रहना चाहते है, तो पहले अपने मनको खुश रखने का प्रयास किजीए ।

If mind is happy; world seems to be happy. If mind is gloomy; world seems to be gloomy. So if I am willing to be happy, try to make a mind happy.

We sail in the Infinite ocean of desire :

We are living in an advanced technological age. We have all information at fingertips; but still we are craving. Isn’t it seems to be a tragedy that we have all in hand; nevertheless we are running! Why is it so?

I think yearning is the burning issue of this age. More we try to achieve; more we become distant from merriment. Gaiety and mirth are the real attainment of life. But we ignore it. Ignorance and annoyance from human qualities will lead us nowhere.

Bhartruhari has wonderfully narrated in Vairagya Shataka…

भोगा न भुक्ता वयमेव भुक्ताः तपो न तप्तं वयमेव तप्ताः ।

कालो न यातो वयमेव याताः तृष्णा न जीर्णा वयमेव जीर्णाः ॥

हम भोग नहीं भोगते, बल्कि भोग ही हमें भोगते है; हमने तप नहीं किया, बल्कि हम स्वयं ही तप्त हो गये हैं; काल पसार नहीं हुआ, हम ही पसार हुए हैं; तृष्णा जीर्ण नहीं हुई, पर हम ही जीर्ण हुए हैं !

Pleasures weren't consumed, only we were; penance weren't 'done'; only we were 'done';

time didn't pass, only we passed; thirst was not 'over', only we got 'over'.

In this rat race; if outcome is stress and anxiety; why we rush ? “Hurry, worry and curry !” Isn’t this phrase describing our lifestyle ?

Worry snaches away all. A subhashit about it…

चिन्ताज्वरो मनुष्याणां क्षुधां निद्रां बलं हरेत् ।

रूपमुत्साहबुध्दिं श्रीं जीवितं च न संशयः ॥

"चिंता" स्वरुप ज्वर (बुखार) भूख, नींद, बल, सौंदर्य, उत्साह, बुद्धि, समृद्धि और स्वयं जीवन को भी हर लेता है ।

The fever of worry snatches away hunger, sleep, strength, beauty, enthusiasm, mind, wealth and life itself - there is no doubt.

If aftermath is a loss; why are we applying the same formula? We need to change the life's equation. We need to add something with professional development. Eternal mirth with merriment is requisite. How can we attain it ? Isn’t it necessary to think over it ?

We create the darkness of dismal :

Here are a few points for which I feel they astray us from exuberance. It is not anyone or anything else that makes us miserable; but we are.

(1) Overthinking :

Chief reason for sadness is over thinking. It’s a misuse of an imagination. Brooding upon pain and pang leads nowhere. It’s stirring a mind without any direction.

(2) Worrying about :

Worrying double the trouble. Feeling uneasy due to anxiety is a starting point of illness. Worry sucks and shrinks a man.

(3) Focusing a lack :

We always focus on a lack. Seeing a deficiency and a dearth makes us sad and gloomy. Pale eyes can’t perceive beauty and colors of life.

(4) Complaining for :

We grumble or protest for what we have not. Whimpering or shouting makes us whiny. Complaining leads us to a negative energy zone.

(5) Mourning for :

We mourn over the past. We cry over the spilt milk. Screaming and shrieking reflects the poverty of mind. Grieving makes us a lament.   

(6) Running after :

We rush after the success. We think articles and artifacts make us happy; and we follow them. We are influenced actually. We are deceived and do not realize it till the end of life.

We are free to choose to be jovial :

Amaizing thing to know is that we have freedom. It’s our choice to be happy or sad. Don’t be in autopilot mode. Be aware and direct thoughts. We can change our choice wisely. Never choose a negative. Always make a positive choice. So choose to be happy. Decide to be happy.

Wherever I am, whatever I am, I can be happy. These are a few points that are irrespective of any external consideration. I realized them in my life to be jolly. Anyone can apply them in life for inner positive change.

(1) Ponder on positivity :

Train up mind to see a positive side always. We are habituated to see a negative. When we choose to focus on a positive, we are being able to see beauty and colors of life. In any difficulty, when we deal with a positive view, new ideas arise, new ways reveals. We can be hopeful in an hour of grief and pain.

(2) Being in now :

Regretting over the past and worrying about future; are major causes of sorrow. We distress own self by doing so. And repetition of the same spurs sufferings. All power dwells in the now; neither in past nor in future. Now is the only moment in which I can make change. Accept what is in the present. Sooner I realize it, faster my progress would be !   

(3) Being grateful :

If I am not happy with what I have, how will I be happy with more. I could have more than I have; but what if I could have less than I have. We can fulfill a need for whom has less; but how can we fulfill a need for whom feels always less. Instead of absence we can focus on abundance. So always list out what we have. Fill mind, heart and soul with gratitude. Feel blessed.

(4) Feel esteem :

Dignify self. None else can do that for us. Feeling inferior or superior both are wrong mindsets. Inferiority makes me a worm and superiority makes me a giant. I am what I am. I accept what I am; and ennoble my identity. We are the children of Immortality. I am potentially divine. I am unique and original. I am a distinctive expression of God. No one is like me. I am great.

(5) Being happy :

Searching and questing for a merriment outside is an inanity. Being elated and glad is an inner craft and within reach. To be cheery and joyous, we need to look within. Worldly things can comfort us; they can’t make us gleeful and blissful. Decide to be happy in anything and everything. “I was happy.” or “I will be happy.” both are illusions. “I am happy.” is the right antidote.    

(6) Wonder with appreciation :

Appreciate and admire around. Instead of rumbling with a beef, try to appreciate. Do I feel ennui or tedium in having a walk in a beautiful aromatic garden ? The sun arises to gift me a new day. The nature flowers to fragrant my life. God has created this world and he has sent me to astonish and amaze. Psychic acridity and acidity can be healed in this way.

(7) Enjoy in little things :

To be happy no need to do big things. Pursue pleasure in small things. The things at hand can be the immense source of joy. Observe a child, how happy is he in playing! Without any reason he runs and jumps. How innocent is he! Be a little by growing such innocence and blitheness. Be a childlike everyday for sometime.

(8) Leap with joy :

Life is not a curse or an imprisonment, so don’t expel or eject. Don’t pass it in an agony. Life is a game, play it. Do I feel a boredom in playing a cricket or a football ? Remember that  everything is a play; whether it is: win or lose; joy or sorrow. Don’t get exile in it, just elate in it. Exultant and exilient is always exhilarated.

(9) Galop with enthusiasm :

Dullness is dumbness. Apathy makes us passive. Lake of vigour and passion leads us to lethargy and languor. Lassitude is an inertia. Take interest and fill love in what we do. Make it a devotion. Pouring mind and heart is like pouring an energy and zeal. Doing anything with ardor increases eagerness and keenness.

(10) Practice an equanimity :

Endure to get equanimity. Mostly we torment in pain and misery. Mental state of equilibrium is exalted requisite. Inner poise and calm always makes us senene. Being tranquil and placid in everything and anything is the real rest and relaxation. A quiet and peaceful always takes proper actions. Giving positive affirmations to self (Positive self-talk) helps a lot to be serene.     

Life is a charming gift of God; don’t squander it in an agony and a misery. Hilarious heart is the real achievement of life. It is rightly said that heaven is nowhere else, but the state of mind. Shakespeare said, “All places that the eye of heaven visits are to the wise man ports and happy heavens.” So sanctify thoughts, all will be scented.

Never rely on external factors. No circumstance, things or people are responsible for happiness. Only mind is. So work on own mind. Healthify thoughts, emotions and actions. Cultivate good habits. Happiness is a beautiful fragrant plant in heart. It surely flourish when we nurture and nourish.

Jubilate in bliss :

“Happiness doesn’t depend on any external condition; it is governed by our mental attitude.”

~ Dale Carnegie

“Happiness is a decision.”

~ Michael Fox

“It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

“Happiness is not something you postpone for future; it is something you design for present.”

~ Jim Rohn

“Happiness is not having best of everything; but making the best of everything.”

~ Unknown

“Happiness is a state of mind, a choice and a way of living; it is not something to be achieved, It is something to be experienced.”

~ Dr. Steve Maraboli

*****

What worry makes is described in below Subhashit…

चिता चिंता समाप्रोक्ता बिंदुमात्रं विशेषता।

सजीवं दहते चिंता निर्जीवं दहते चिता॥

चिता और चिंता समान कही गयी हैं पर उसमें भी चिंता में एक बिंदु की विशेषता है; चिता तो मरे हुए को ही जलाती है पर चिंता जीवित व्यक्ति को॥

Chita" and "Chinta" are said to be same still there is a difference of a dot. Pyre(chita) burns the dead while Worry(chinta) burns the alive.  

*****

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

~ Leisure, William Henry Davies

*****

રસ્તો નહીં જડે તો રસ્તો કરી જવાના,

થોડા અમે મૂંઝાઈ મનમાં મરી જવાના?

નિજ મસ્ત થઈ જીવન આ પૂરું કરી જવાના,

બિન્દુ મહીં ડૂબીને સિન્ધુ તરી જવાના!

મનમાં વિચાર શું છે? અવિરામ કંઈ દીપક છે

પ્રકાશ આંધીઓમાં પણ પાથરી જવાના!

એક આત્મબળ અમારું દુ:ખ માત્રની દવા છે,

હર જખ્મને નજરથી ટાંકા ભરી જવાના!

~ અમૃત ઘાયલ

*****

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air.

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go.

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

~ Ella Wilcox

*****

Sing out, my soul, thy songs of joy;

Sing as a happy bird will sing

Beneath a rainbow's lovely arch

In the spring.

Think not of death in thy young days;

Why shouldst thou that grim tyrant fear?

And fear him not when thou art old,

And he is near.

Sing, happy soul, thy songs of joy;

Such as a Brook sings in the wood,

That all night has been strengthened by

Heaven's purer flood.

~ William Davis

*****

“Here is a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry be happy

In every life we have some trouble

When you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy......”

~ Boob Marley