Where inner-contentment comes from

I’m taking you on another day of your virtual pilgrimage to a far away place for a close in purpose.

It is obvious, everywhere you travel in India–in the large cities, in the small towns, throughout the countryside–there is tremendous poverty.

Many of the people have literally no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing. It is easy to see this “lack” through our western trained eyes and think that having little means would result in sadness.

However, it is equally obvious, everywhere you look that there is no misery in these people. These are HAPPY people. You can see it in their always-ready smiles, in their body language, and in their interactions with one another.

For many Westerners, it takes a bit of close observation and a bit of introspection about one’s own beliefs to realize that poverty and maybe even struggle and misery do NOT go hand in hand.

It isn’t that those who have so little don’t know that there is more to be had. It isn’t that they have no aspirations for a better life. This authentic happiness comes from a sense of well-being with “what is” and it comes from a deep connection with the land, with each other, and with their Spirituality.

The smiles are real. The reaching out to touch and be touched is real. The desire to be of service is real. And . . . the happiness is real. It is a direct result of not allowing one’s physical and financial conditions to determine one’s emotion.

At first we see what they “don’t have” and then these great souls teach us there is something to “have” that has nothing to do with things.

As you and I travel together today on this virtual journey, let’s concentrate on the outward signs of this possible inner contentment. Let’s initiate smiles, handshakes, even wave at a stranger, and notice you can truly generate the wonderful feeling that life IS good, if we believe it to be good: No Matter What!

Seeing The Choice To Be Happy In You, Mary

P.S. Here is the scene I passed by in India that inspired this message.

By Mary Morrissey

Source: Mary’s Journal