What Happiness Means to Me! – Anil Bhatnagar

Happiness to me is

1.    When I am meditating and manage to arrive at a complete (and very mysterious) trance. On rare occasions under the spell of this trance, the sounds of what is happening right around me begin to appear to be coming from a distance. I feel almost ecstatic then.

2.    When I am sharing with my son, daughter, or my wife how much they mean to me or sharing my time with them. I clearly can feel the words of Jesus then, “All the gifts of God will someday come to an end, but love goes on for ever.”

3.    When I have an ‘aha!!!’ experience—an insight about my own behaviour or about some well guarded subtle secret of life—even if it reveals a negative side of mine.

4.    When I am expressing any of my natural gifts, painting, lecturing, acting, singing, writing. I am especially happy, when I am lecturing or conducting a workshop while sharing real-life examples through mimicry and when I am made to feel by my audience that I could entertain them or could make a difference in their lives.

5.    When I am writing–putting my thoughts and connecting them in an organized way to understand my own understanding, or doing anything creative.

6.    When I find a lot of energy within and able to pass my day as per my plan, to a great extent.

7.    When I see order, beauty, and cleanliness anywhere (I am poor myself in this regard by my own standards). I also feel happy when I see any kind of improvement at a place, or within a person.

8.    Watching the movement of everything that is natural: the squirrels, the clouds, the flowers, the river, the ocean, the stars, the moon, a beautiful painting, a smile, a beautiful face, the sparrows, etc. I am especially fond of squirrels. Also when I spot a group of birds flying, I feel so happy–as if it is about my freedom, and with tears in my eyes, I wish the same for all the birds and animals in human captivity.

9.    When I am listening to the views of and talking to a grand wise old man who has almost just arrived in this world–his physical body being just five years old or even lesser.

10.    When I am able to help out someone who is really needy.

11.    When I am able to establish a connection with others by making them understand and appreciate what I am saying, or vice versa.

Anil Bhatnagar is a corporate trainer and author.