by Diane Ross

Excerpted from the book, Diaries of a Mystic, by Diane L. Ross. ©2003.

Don't "Should" On Yourself

Happiness is a Skill
Happiness is a skill.
Like all skills, it requires practice.
Like all skills, some people are naturally better at it than others, but like all skills, almost everyone can develop it.
If you depend on something outside of yourself to achieve happiness, you will never tap into that inner pool where infinite joy exists.
The first step in achieving happiness is making the conscious decision to be happy.
You must choose happiness, as like all other choices, it’s an option.
The second step is to be aware that true happiness comes from within you.
The perfect relationship, financial security, achieving your ideal weight, will all bring temporary pleasure, but they will not bring lasting happiness.
Real joy can never be permanently taken away from you.
Of course, you will experience sadness, grief and confusion at times, because that’s part of the human experience, but those emotions are temporary.
Without your own, personal experience of sadness, grief and confusion , you wouldn’t develop the compassion and understanding necessary to help others.
As you practice accessing that inner state of happiness, it becomes easier to put the negative states in perspective.
Decide to be happy, no matter what.
Practice accessing happiness.
Develop the skill of living in joy.
whether you are aware of it or not.
You create with your words, the expression on your face, the way you walk down the street, the way you drive your car.
You create with positive thoughts of love and support, or with negative thoughts of fear and jealousy.
You create with the very nature of who you are – a spiritual being seeking growth within the earthly realms.
Creating discord is really easy.
Think of a classroom of unruly nine-year-olds.
A single, mischievous glance can send the entire class into an uproar!
Creating harmony is really easy, too!
Think of the power a simple smile has on a tired parent rushing through the grocery store.
These are important, profound creations that impact your life, and the lives of others, every day.
Become aware of the life you want, and then begin creating it – thought by thought, word by word, deed by deed.
If you are not creating your life, who is?
What life are you creating?

CD's and cassette tapes by Diane Ross are available at College Park Video, 3001 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804.

Visit our website at http://www.Dianeross.com
e-mail Diane Ross at Diane@DianeRoss.com

Excerpted from the book,
Diaries of a Mystic, by Diane L. Ross. ©2003.

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