Noticing Happiness

If you notice, you will see that happiness is already here. Still, no matter how good life may be, the ego says no to it: “It would be better if….” “I will be happy when….” As long as we don’t follow these thoughts, we will be happy. But usually we give our attention to the ego’s rejection of what is instead of to what is. We give this “no” the power to steer our actions: We jump from one idea to the next, trying to make life and ourselves better.

We will never arrive at happiness by listening to the “no.” Happiness just is. It is inherent in the moment—in the now—in the form of joy, acceptance, and love. It cannot not be. We only have to notice what already is. That is the only reality there is, so why waste your attention on what is not?

We think that some day there will be no more “no”—no more ego arguing against reality—and then we will finally be happy. But that day will never come. If you wait for the “no” to disappear, you will be waiting a very long time.

We don’t have to get rid of the “no” to be happy; we just have to see it for what it is—the programmed discontent of the ego—and ignore it. The ego will never be happy, but we can be if we don’t give our attention to what the mind says we need to be happy. The ego doesn’t know about happiness. What can it know about happiness? Its job is to manufacture unhappiness, and it is very skillful at convincing us otherwise.

Once we see this, the mind has no power to draw us away from the now. The only power it has is the power we give it by believing what it tells us. Now that you see this, there is no excuse for giving your attention to your thoughts. Pay attention to this moment. Notice. That is all it takes. The price of admission into the now is attention.

This is an easy price to pay because we are always paying attention to something. Attention is one thing that is constant; it is always happening. Attention is like the eyes of the Self. It is where the Self is focusing part of the Awareness that it is. The Self could be described as an awaring presence. It is sometimes simply called Awareness or Presence.

The attention that is part of Awareness is directed either by the Self or by the ego. In any moment, the Self may be directing our attention or the ego may be. The Self allows attention to be hijacked by the ego because that is part of the Self experiencing this world. Even when attention is being focused by the ego, the Self remains aware of that. Awareness is never lost, but the ego is not aware of Awareness.

What we put our attention on is what we identify with. Attention directs identification. When we put our attention on thoughts, we become identified with them. And when we notice the now, identification shifts from the ego to the Self. Noticing is the primary doorway into the now, where the Self abides.

Exercise: Noticing: Turn your attention to this moment and notice what is happening right now. Is the ego saying no to that? That could be one of the things happening in this moment. What else is happening right now? what sensory experiences? what thoughts? what judgments? what feelings? what insights? what desires? what urges? What is coming out of this moment right now? Something is always arising from the moment, and something is always being taken in by you. What is happening right now? Notice how the mind tries to co-opt the moment, and then bring your awareness back to your sensory experience and everything else that is coming out of the now.

You can be happy simply by noticing that happiness is already present rather than noticing your thoughts about your current experience.

Gina Lake has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and over twenty years experience as an astrologer and a channel. She is the author of several books, including Radical Happiness and Return to Essence. Gina is available for astrological and channeled phone consultations that support awakening and living a conscious life. For more info, to order her books, to read excerpts, or to download the free e-book: Radiance: Experiencing Divine Presence, please visit http://www.radicalhappiness.com.

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