Missing Out on Your Own Happiness

Wise owl
Thomas Merton reminds me of a wise owl.

“In humility is the greatest freedom. As long as you have to defend the imaginary self that you think is so important, you lose your peace of heart…

As soon as you take yourself seriously and imagine that your virtues are important because they are yours, you become the prisoner of your own vanity, and even your best works will bring and deceive you.

Then, in order to defend yourself, you will begin to see sins and faults in the actions of others. And the more unreasonable importance you attach to yourself, the more you will tend to build up your idea of yourself by condemning other people.”

~ Thomas Merton “New Seeds of Contemplation.”

When we find ourselves caught in the trap of trying to be more virtuous and better than other people, we miss out on our own happiness.

Peace of heart ( love this expression) comes from accepting ourselves just as we are, and being true to our inner nature. It isn’t about how others see us, how impressive we are in the work that we do, or how many people like us on Facebook.

This is a lesson for every adolescent … and every adult who hasn’t gotten over themselves yet.

Love yourself, share your gifts and let the rest go.

Namaste

 

39 responses to “Missing Out on Your Own Happiness”

  1. Excellent advice.. 🙂 We are only as good as we are to ourselves 🙂 It took me many years to find that out.. And dig deeper to Love the total of all who I AM.. 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It does seem to take time to let go of trying to be someone else, and then love who we are. Only then can we touch the beauty that is within us all. Thank you Sue for your visit. Happy gardening 🌱🌱🌱🌱

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      1. Many thanks Val.. 🙂

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  2. Thank you for the peace of heart, wise Val. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart Ann … and bringing peace of heart ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  3. This is great! This is what I’ve really worked on, not comparing myself to others and letting that steal my happiness. My value is NOT in how many “likes” I get!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you awesome Kate 💛

      Like

  4. Peace of heart – I love it too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Jennifer 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Great post, Val. I love Thomas Merton! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Ally – from one fan to another 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  6. We’re each unique as a snowflake. Great reminder Val.

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    1. We are, yet made out of the same stuff of the cosmos. Thank you 💛

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    1. Thank you Kate 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature Avatar
    Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature

    I wonder how many wars we would get into if everyone knew this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahh yes …. It would be a different world for us all 💕🙏💕

      Like

  8. Beautiful reminder! Thankyou Val 💕🙏🏻

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    1. So glad you appreciated it Karen. Thank you 💕

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  9. Wise words, Val.

    “The reason men are so anxious to see themselves, instead of being content to be themselves, is that they do not really believe in their own existence.” ~ Thomas Merton, A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life

    Here’s to being content to be ourselves.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for sharing more TM Nancy 💕

      Like

  10. True, true and true. One of my favorite and most used expressions is “Nobody’s that special.” We are each unique expressions of the One, but none more special than another. I know this to my core. So get over yourselves, I say! It’s a happier place to be, inside and out. ❤

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    1. So well said Bela. We are in accordance here 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Val, this really is a timely reminder. Thank you so much for sharing. Through humility, we are able to shed the unnecessary weight of our own inflated expectations and facades. What a lode off!

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    1. Well said Gabe! Thank you 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Val, this is so true. I think, it becomes more easy by age and experiments ❤

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    1. Thank you Irene for your kind words. 💛

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    1. Thank you Pam 💕

      Like

  13. What great reminder Val!
    I think, I’ll head to the tattoo parlor now……
    I’d like to have your final sentence in front of my eyes at all times. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is a good mantra for every day isn’t it Deb! Thank you for the smile 💛

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      1. yes! and definitely, my pleasure Val 🙂

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  14. Even if we have more or less ‘gotten over’ ourselves, this is a great reminder! It is so easy to fall back and start defending the ego 🙂 Thanks, Val!

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    1. Agreed Helen. It’s all too easy to revert to the old ways! thank you for your presence here 💕

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Tom 💛

      Like

  15. The last line sums it up, Val. So simple and yet so profound. ❤

    Like

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