Happy Now

-Devlyn Steele

At different points during the year, we wish each other happiness, happy birthday, happy New Year, Happy Anniversary, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and so on and so on.  It's almost as if those days are reserved for recognizing happiness. My question is, what about today? Isn't today a day worth being happy about? As everyone was wishing me Happy New Year this year, it dawned on me, why do I have to wait for the New Year, what about being happy now?

So I began instead  to  wish everyone a "Happy Now!" That's actually how I do live my life. I live to create and enjoy being happy each and every day. No, not because today might be my last day. I am not sure how happy I would be living as though today would be my last. Sure I would be on a mission to do certain things if today was my last day, but that would in fact be completely different than what I actually did today and those things might not be what actually brings me happiness.

For example, if today was my last day, I wouldn't be taking the time to write this article, which in fact I am very happy doing. I wouldn't start the new book I bought last night, if today was my last day. If today was my last day, why not have that second piece of cake. If today was my last, how much money I spend certainly would have no effect on my life. If today was my last day, what I would do as opposed to what I do with the expectations of more days to come are completely different. So I never liked the expression that you should live everyday as though it was your last.

Don't get me wrong, I do not live in denial of death. In fact, I am fully aware that we have limited days. I feel that not only do we have limited days, but death can come at any moment. Control is an illusion, and life can take drastic turns in a moment's notice. It is for that reason, being "Happy Now" is extremely important. So instead of asking myself, "What I would do today if today was my last day"; I look myself in the mirror and ask myself, "How do I want to live today?' I want to live everyday with integrity, feeling valuable, pursuing my purpose, honoring my future self and being happy today. That's right, being happy today. If I do that every day, as if today was my last day, then that is not a bad way to go.

Happiness does not mean living life with abandonment as though today was my last. Certainly, worrying that each day might be my last is not a happy state of mind. Happiness is living your life to experience the joy you actual have all around you each day, while in action to affect your future you, in a positive manner. Delaying happiness with the idea that you will be happy when some moment in the future happens, is not honoring the value of today. The shame in living a life which delays happiness until a trigger of a future event comes, if that trigger never happens, you would have wasted many happy days.

Happiness is not this giant light switch that gets turned on at some magical point and then... boom you are happy. Delaying happiness results in one thing and one thing only, not being happy. That house, car, relationship are not what will make you happy. Happiness is a state of mind, not a state of future accomplishments or possessions. When you get what you are working for in the future, you will only set more goals and discover more wants and be in an endless pursuit of happiness. Like a dog chasing its own tail, you will never find happiness in a destination. Happiness is appreciating and enjoying the journey to our hopeful future destinations.

I speak from experience not only by the work I do with others, but within my own life. Delaying happiness until I reached goals of career, finances and other goals made a life of many days of not being happy. I said it was okay because I was working towards my goals. I wore as a badge of honor, "see how hard I work and how I don't worry about being happy." What I thought I was winning, I am not sure, I certainly wasn't winning a happy life. Living life like that, if any of those days I had this misfortune of meeting my last, what a wasted life it would have been.

I can also tell you that when I did reach my goals, happiness was not there waiting for me. In fact, the cost of pursuing my goals without respecting being happy in the days to get there, left me alone with my goals. If happiness was created by accomplishing goals then I would not have any clients. My clients are comprised of an assortment of some of the most accomplished people, but are not experiencing being happy.

Do not waste your life waiting to be happy. Realize that you only have to stop and slow down to realize the happiness that surrounds you each and every day. Enjoy a smile, a sunset, each meal, a laugh, friends, family, and happiness now. Today, might in fact be your last, but don't live like it is. Live your life everyday asking yourself, "How can I enjoy this day while honoring my future self?" Work for a better tomorrow and be Happy Now!