A Place for Spiritual Growth Questions

Bringing Aquarian Group energy, we are two personalities and a group soul answering your spiritual growth questions to assist moving you one step forward, leading to many stepping stones onward. Ask your questions by emailing:

  visionaryviewpoints@yahoo.com  –  Dear Stepping Stones

(Stepping Stones does not necessarily reflect the views of Visionary Viewpoints.)

Dear Stepping Stones,

Life is stressful. How do I bring more happiness into my life?

I remember as a child when Charles Schultz came out with a book called Happiness is…with  Peanuts and especially Snoopy listing all the things that brought happiness to them. My elementary class combined our artistic and literary skills, writing and drawing up a happiness comic. The lesson taught the value of finding happiness in everyday life; a joy in the moment and hopefully a sustained happiness grounded in the heart that lifts one when reflected upon or experienced. Sometimes what seems small on the surface has a greater impact inside as settled beingness.

Our world is in a stressful time and this shifting of change brings isolation, tension, agitation, frustration, and judgement.  Ask, am I angry with myself? Some of these impressions are inside us as an unconscious feeling gaining in momentum when we don’t look at them. Let go of the energy and move the feeling, acknowledging the sensation. Talk with another trusted friend to define the attitude rather than being stuck in an emotion.  Substitute old thoughts with a more flexible, open, and flowing state. We often find a sincere heartfelt conversation can move the pressure and open the mind to better realizations and understandings; even ‘ah ha’ moments that resolve issues.

We have been discovering small interactions throughout the day can be filled with connection, relatable moments, positive exchanges and shared laughter as well as humor in everyday life. Day to day moments can give us a chance to connect person to person, face to face and heart to heart just by being open to others and join in conversation. These moments, when you take the time to notice someone, can give a lift to you and the person you are interacting with as you are both being seen and heard by the other. In the conversation, something that is said may give an insight and impact a negative, changing it to a positive with a new understanding. A good deed of opening a door with a genuine smile, adding change for others to use at a cash register, or letting in a car in busy traffic; all can give others and yourself a lift.  Find something to do that means something to you and puts a smile on your face. It could be volunteering or being in a group activity that meets regularly. Find ways to be social and interact. Take time; everything isn’t a rush.

An example of exuberant joy was seen when the USA Men’s and Women’s hockey team won gold in the Olympics. The joy of that moment cannot be sustained nor the possible anger of loss felt by the losing team when a miscue allowed in a winning goal. One can go to a consistent middle of active happiness as a soul expression that includes connection, potential and purpose along with the movement to strive for better understanding and healthy relating with oneself and others.

Move step by step for something better in your future. Do the little things one can do to get to the goal. Progress can build a sustained sense of happiness. It’s always there inside you waiting for you to connect.

   The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy is a liquid…. JD Salinger