So, it starts and ends with this.
We all seek happiness - to live a happy life.
The essence of HAPPY is HARMONY. (Again, I dislike both words because they sound like they come from a children's book. But, I can't find better ones for now.)
HARMONY is achieved IN THE MOMENT, by anchoring ourselves in the "IS" of the moment, the "absolute truth" of the moment, and from that place of gratitude and strength, moving our energy toward who we want to be.
That's it!
"A Glass Of Water" - perhaps an overused metaphor, but it always amuses me.
Is the glass of water half full OR half empty? How do you choose to see the world? Or, any given situation for that matter?
I always think to myself, why is this a "trick question". It's not.
My answer:
The glass of water is half full AND half empty. It's not an OR. To "choose" to see one side and not the other is to be blind or ignorant.
I see the glass of water as half full AND half empty because that is the IS, that is the absolute truth.
Harmony is not about focusing on the full half. Harmony is about BEING grateful for the the FULL HALF, and then creatively brainstorming how to fill the rest!
The full half (or quarter for that matter) is what we must be grateful for in every moment. We must always see, in every situation, in every relationship, in ourselves - the gifts, the blessings. We must acknowledge it - to ourselves and those around us sharing in the moment. That is where we MUST start (if we want to achieve HARMONY). Gratitude for our "FULLNESS" is the source of our strength and motivation. And, importantly we can help each other see it and reach it.
The empty half (or part) of the glass is what creates the opportunity for our dreams. Perhaps I want to fill the rest of the glass with vodka, or with Sprite or with Protein Powder. Who says I have to fill it with water? The half of the glass that is empty is the half that I get to create from here! How cool is that? But, I can only see that perspective if I start with gratitude for the fullness.
From the vantage point of the fullness - the empty half is the opportunity.
From the vantage point of the empty (or the "wishing") - the empty half is all we see. There is no opportunity, there is only deficiency and negativity.
For those that choose to only see the full half of the glass. They get content. But, they don't grow. They don't dream. They don't bounce out of bed in the morning. There is no reason to - the glass is done. They have no contribution / purpose left.
For those that choose to only see the half empty side (and few will actually admit to it) - they are victims, they are lost, they are unworthy, they are forgotten, they make themselves irrelevant. They are no fun to be around.
SO - next time you hear "are you a glass half full or a glass half empty kind of person"?
Smile deeply.
It's not a trick question.
It's the only question that matters.
And, you have been answering it every living moment of your life (consciously or subconsciously).
It's both. It's everything!
Live deliberately filling your glass.
"My cup runneth over" no matter how much water is in it. That is where my moments start ;-)
Nestor Benavides