An important question we can ask ourselves is, “What do I truly need right now, in this moment, to feel happy?” The world bombards us with many answers to that question: a new car, a new house, a new relationship, and so on. But do we really need those things? “What am I lacking right now? Does anything need to change for me to be happy? What is it that I truly need?” These questions hold great power.
The Dalai Lama once said, “If you’re going to be selfish, be wisely selfish.” In other words, if we take a closer look at our lives, we’ll see that we often seek happiness in the wrong places and in the wrong ways. It’s natural to yearn for happiness; all beings want to be happy. The problem lies in our ignorance. Often, we don’t know where to find genuine happiness—lasting, true happiness—and as a result, we suffer and cause suffering to others.
As I navigate through life’s various feelings and experiences—joy, surprise, disappointment, dismay—I keep this question in mind as a guiding principle: “What do I really need right now to be happy?” What I consistently realize is that only things as profound and deep as love, connection, and kindness truly bring me lasting happiness.
Just a thought.
Love, Always
Spring of 2024
MISTER WILLIAM REILLY 