{"id":1380,"date":"2014-09-20T04:38:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-20T04:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/areasontosmile\/?p=1380"},"modified":"2014-09-20T04:38:45","modified_gmt":"2014-09-20T04:38:45","slug":"3-simple-rules-for-a-happy-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/areasontosmile\/2014\/09\/3-simple-rules-for-a-happy-life.html","title":{"rendered":"3 Simple rules for a happy life"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"You<\/a>
You are worth it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“You always own the option of having no opinion.
\nThere is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.”
\n\u2014 Marcus Aurelius (Meditations)<\/p>\n

On a recent episode of\u00a0Rise UP with B. Dave Walters we talked about \u201cFinding Your Power\u201d<\/a>, along with: How to stay calm and peaceful, how to pick yourself up when you fall, timeless secrets for happiness and power, and much, much, more.<\/p>\n

One of the things we talked about were the three phrases carved on the front of the\u00a0Temple of Delphi<\/a>, and how these simple reminders can improve your life.<\/p>\n

Number 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Know thyself.\u00a0 This simple statement is one of the most common, and yet most misunderstood sayings around.\u00a0 Here is another way of looking at it:
\n\u201cAt 30 a person should know themselves like the palm of their hand, know the exact number of their defects and qualities, know how far they can go, foretell their failures – be what they are. And, above all, accept these things.\u201d<\/p>\n

We waste an astonishing amount of time trying to live up to other people\u2019s expectations and defining ourselves based on other people\u2019s opinions.\u00a0 And they of course are operating out of their own\u00a0unresolved baggage, issues, and trauma from the past<\/a>, which sets up a vicious cycle of everyone doing what they thought would make them happy, and yet ending up feeling unfulfilled and non-specifically disappointed and unhappy.<\/p>\n

So how do we break this pattern?\u00a0 First and foremost, by looking at yourself, TRULY looking at yourself, rose petals, thorns and all. It is only once you accept who and what you are inside, that you can start living out of that, and into the specific purpose you\u2019ve been sent into the world to do.\u00a0 But you\u2019ll never find your purpose while you\u2019re still shackled by someone else\u2019s definition of you!<\/p>\n

Number 2:<\/strong>\u00a0Nothing in Excess.\u00a0 Aristotle said \u201cAnybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.\u201d Notice, it says nothing in excess; not food, drink, anger, working, playing, nothing.\u00a0 How many times have you heard someone (or yourself!) say \u201cI know I shouldn\u2019t ________ so much __________, but\u2026\u201d and then proceed to do the thing anyway?\u00a0 Notice how much pain in life could be avoided if we just skipped the things we knew we shouldn\u2019t do, and actually DID the things we know we should!<\/p>\n

Notice how rule one and two fit together so seamlessly: Once you have a firm grasp on who and what you are, what you should do flows out of it seamlessly.\u00a0 If you find yourself facing a lot of confusion about what you want, the issue is that you aren\u2019t completely clear on who you are.<\/p>\n

Number 3:<\/strong>\u00a0Make a pledge and mischief is nigh.\u00a0 This can also be translated as \u201cdon\u2019t make promises\/commitments you aren\u2019t prepared to keep\u201d.\u00a0 Yes, this rule does relate to keeping your word to others, but there\u2019s a much deeper meaning.\u00a0 When we talked before about\u00a0finding true love<\/a>\u00a0we said the foundation of a healthy relationship is trust and respect, since only then can real love grow.\u00a0 The same is true with loving yourself; you need a proper foundation of trust and respect for yourself.\u00a0 And that, comes from integrity, since integrity means keeping the promises you make to yourself.<\/p>\n

Once again, we come back to living a life in proper alignment.\u00a0 Since a key component of self-knowledge is being honest with yourself.\u00a0 This is not easy, since we humans have an infinite capacity for self-deception.\u00a0 Think about your closest friends, and the things you know that are true that they aren\u2019t admitting to themselves.\u00a0 Of course, if I ask them, they\u2019ll have a list of things that you aren\u2019t admitting to yourself, either!<\/p>\n

However, you can resolve today to start turning this all around.\u00a0 Take a moment to look in the mirror (I mean it, actually look in the mirror) and ask yourself what you see.\u00a0 Look into that person\u2019s eyes, and ask yourself who you see there.\u00a0 And take the time to answer. By the way, never, ever, EVER, accept the answer \u2018I don\u2019t know\u2019, after all, if you don\u2019t know you then who does?<\/p>\n

The bad news is, this process is not easy, but nothing worth having in life ever is.\u00a0 Only the weak get hung up on \u2018easy\u2019, and you are not weak; you are as strong as they come!\u00a0 The good news is, you\u2019ll get the joy of feeling peaceful, happy, powerful, comfortable in your own skin and at home in your own life.\u00a0 And if that\u2019s not worth putting in a little effort to give yourself a checkup from the neck-up, I don\u2019t know what is!<\/p>\n

What do you think? Feel free to comment down below!<\/p>\n

You are great, and I love you!
\nAnd if you love me back, click ‘share’ up at the top!<\/p>\n

B. Dave Walters Writer, Life Coach, and Talk Radio Host<\/p>\n

Find out more about me:\u00a0http:\/\/about.me\/BDaveWalters<\/a><\/p>\n

Ask me anything:\u00a0http:\/\/formspring.me\/BDaveWalters<\/a><\/p>\n

Become a supporter of my work:\u00a0http:\/\/www.patreon.com\/bdavewalters<\/a><\/p>\n

Pages I support:
\nJesus and Buddha<\/a>\u00a0— Interfaith dialog<\/p>\n

Gnostic Theism<\/a>\u00a0— Religion and Spirituality for the 21st Century (Join the Movement!)<\/p>\n

Love One Another<\/a>\u00a0— A group for the coolest Spiritual people on the Internet!<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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“You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.” \u2014 Marcus Aurelius (Meditations) On a recent episode of\u00a0Rise UP with B. 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