Be positive, Be happy.

Be positive, Be happy. This is not a piece of advice nor preaching. It is something which I am yearning for and struggling hard to incorporate in my life. Always think positive is all situations and getting rid of the negativity which puts pressure and stresses you from all ends that you are unable to even breathe. I am writing after such a long time. It has taken this much time for my mind to awaken and be productive.

There is so much of negativity surrounding us. Things just are not happening the way we expect them to be. People don't help out or act according to our expectation. The problem is we expect too much and in the end we get disappointed. This is the first form of negativity and the only solution to this is to stop expecting in the first place. Just spreading out our arms and letting go of any situation beyond our control helps. Nobody is responsible for our peace of mind except ourselves. Who am I to expect? I am but a speck of dust when compared to this vast universe. Spread out the arms, let go, be free, be happy.

Calamity. Chennai floods for example. The negative thought about will we survive? This is caused due to fear, hallucination. No electricity, no network, water water everywhere but not a drop to drink, such hard pressing times. The solution to this is Yes! we will. The belief, the faith which we must have that lights like a torch dispelling all darkness. We must never lose our hope and our faith that things will move to the better. When we have faith, we rise above the ground, we become stronger and when we lose it we sink below, energyless, weak, to death and destruction. The same thing holds for failure as well. Failing to secure marks in the exams, failing to win a race. The belief in ourself, the never give up attitude and our strong will power will help us rise towards success.

Discontentment. Oh I have loads of those. I am just not contented with life. I have a good family, decent standard of living, but still I am dissatisfied, bored and always feel there is something lacking. This sucks out my energy so hard. I try to escape out by grabbing a chocolate or fulfilling my sugar craving. But this provides only temporary relief. The permanent solution to this is gratitude. When our hearts are filled with gratitude, thanking each precious moment for what it is all the negativity is dispelled. We should keep thanking the sacrifice of our ancestors. They were in a much worse situation than us and still lived their life to the fullest. We should look at people who are below us who don't even have a roof and quality food to eat, not the Ambani brothers.

Greediness is a close cousin of discontentment and is a major setback to happiness. The impulsive nature to keep hoarding our cupboards and carpet area with things which we really do not need. The new level of greediness is to keep buying property which we really cannot maintain. Our greediness causes us to go against nature, like cut down the trees and make a concrete jungle. The solution to this is Charity. Keeping a check on what we don't need and use and giving them away to the deserving is the key to happiness. The more we give the more we loosen the burden. Clear away the clutter. Do not be disappointed but be proud in giving away the things even brand new. This can be an exercise to never be greedy and engage in wasteful purchases. The same applies to eating as well. Hogging on food causes disease, whereas sharing the same brings about happiness.

The best and the foremost of things is to be totally unaffected by all the negative and demotivating things that people say. By practising meditation and pranayama we strengthen our inner selves to be immune to the negativity that surrounds us. I keep reminding myself this quote by The Mother, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, "What people think, do or say is of little importance. The only thing that counts is your relation with the Divine"

Any other personal experience on staying positive is welcome to be shared in the comments section.