A Season of Happiness. Dave Hawkins

you, as supportive and comforting as ever. And the essence of it, is what your inner self needs to be truly happy.

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      MUSIC IS MEMORIES

      "Listen - they're playing our song." Maybe you haven't used those exact words, but if music has been a part of your life at all, you may find certain tunes or artists remind you of particular events from your past.

      If they were happy times, replaying those old favourites can be not only nostalgic, but can also help put you in the same positive frame of mind which once made the moment so memorable for you.

      RECORD YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS

      Make a list of old songs which mean a lot to you, then try to get recordings of them.

      Play them whenever you need a psychological boost and draw on the memories they bring for comfort, strength and motivation.

      Also, start a current album, taping any tunes that seem to put you in a positive frame of mind.

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      GIVING UP ON HOPES AND DREAMS

      You think you know what you want, but you can't seem to get close enough to confirm it. All those insurmountable problems crowd in to obstruct the clear view of your ultimate goals to the point where you may as well give up trying.

      Don't abandon your dreams - they are an example of what your inner-self needs to be happy. Rather, look for a more realistic alternative which you are confident of reaching.

      If the road you elect to travel is, for the present, appealing, you will at least be starting out with renewed enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

      ANALYSE YOUR DREAMS

      Try to decide what you hope to gain on reaching your dream destination. Will it provide money, security, relaxation, or perhaps a sense of achievement without which you could never be satisfied?

      Now estimate the cost of attaining your goal in terms of time, sacrifice, money and whatever else you value.

      Finally, imagine that you have this considerable outlay handed to you as a gift, for you to buy whichever future you can afford. Would it still be the same as the one in your dreams?

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      PUTTING MISFORTUNE IN PERSPECTIVE

      Some things are sent to try us, but we don't always rise to the challenge. We become irritated, aggressive, despondent and very negative, when we should really be grateful.

      Put in the right perspective, misfortune can be beneficial by showing us the way we don't want to go. If a set of circumstances makes us unhappy, we then know what to avoid or remove in order to find happiness.

      By tackling the problem in this frame of mind, our motivation is the desire for a positive solution which, once achieved, is its own reward.

      SPOT THE OMISSION

      Take two sheets of paper - one black, one white. In the centre of the black sheet, put a dab of white correcting fluid. Now, hold it before you and focus on the white spot.

      After a minute or so, swap to the white sheet. You will be aware that there seems to be a black spot on the supposedly blank sheet.

      Your mind is actually putting it there, filling your need for balance. In a similar way, your inner-self can see what you have missed, or are choosing to ignore.

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      DESTINATION HAPPINESS

      Where does the road to happiness end? Is it one of those concepts like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow which we can never actually hold?

      Seek to experience enjoyment along the way. The more you enjoy, the more enjoyment you will want.

      When you reach the point where the road is so pleasurable that you hope it will go on forever, then you have arrived.

      READ A FAIRY TALE

      Choose one you know - Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, etc. Try to empty your mind of expectancy and criticism. Fully appreciate the story as it unfolds.

      You already know it has a happy-ever-after ending, so you can enjoy the elements leading up to the finale without fear of disappointment. This is exactly what you should be doing on your road to happiness.

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      HAPPINESS - THE SIMPLE EMOTION

      Not enough can be said about happiness, about how important it is and how seemingly elusive it can be. Yet it is the simplest of emotions induced by the most basic of stimuli.

      You will experience it most noticeably during periods of tranquillity and contentment, often when you are least active. Whether you have loathed or enjoyed reaching this point, you are now reaping the rewards of your efforts. You are gratified just to be able to appreciate your being exactly as it is at the moment.

      This is what you have been searching for - the touch of happiness.

      FLOWER IN THE DESERT

      Search an area of seemingly barren ground until you find a flower, the smaller the better. Study it, marvel at its courage and tenacity, how it strives for life and perfection under hostile conditions.

      Now, stand up and see it for what it is - a flower in the desert, a speck of living beauty in a barren wilderness.

      Before you leave, smile at it, as it has smiled at you.

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