by Ross Bishop
Real happiness is something we all want and few of us actually achieve. We all have our happy moments, but a truly peaceful existence eludes us. Why?
The simple answer is that true happiness means resolving the negative beliefs and self-doubts that interfere. It’s an inside job. And when what is inside is largely self-doubt, self-criticism, and self-condemnation, it is pretty tough to cut through that to find happiness. And as you have already learned, your beliefs will sabotage any external attempt to make you happy.
And that means that the only way to find true happiness is to deal with what is inside. And few of us are ready to do that. Instead, we would rather hide out in limbo - sometimes in pain, sometimes happy, but not finding real peacefulness.
It isn’t that life is unfair, although it certainly feels that way! But giving up your beliefs in order be happy presents a real dilemma. Being happy means deciding that you deserve it, and that in turn means confronting and rejecting the beliefs you have carried about yourself since childhood. The thing is, those beliefs, every one of them, are false!
Complicating matters, your negative beliefs comprise an important part of who you think you are! It doesn’t matter that they are untrue, as long as you feed them by believing in them, they are real. Giving your beliefs up feels like the equivalent of giving up an arm or a leg in order to achieve something on the horizon that you are not at all sure you deserve or that you won’t be rejected for.
So here’s the thing: it’s a setup. You have free will, so you cannot just be given happiness. You must decide that you deserve it for yourself. So in placing you here, The Creator ensures that your self-doubts will be amplified by creating conflicts with other people and within yourself. Eventually, you will get tired of living in pain and begin to question your beliefs. Then you will dump them and stand in the truth.
How does that happen? Every time you act like a jerk, The Universe will give you a wake-up call as a reminder that you are screwing up. We know those reminders as the three-headed monster of discomfort, stress, and pain. It is really that simple. When it gets so bad that you can’t stand it, you’ll have a healing crisis, and then you are given a stress-filled opportunity to dump your fear and self-doubt and stand in the light.
Refuse, and The Universe will bring the reminder around again in some other form. And it will be relentless until you give up your false beliefs. Refuse in this lifetime and you will repeat the process in the next. As I said, the game is rigged. There is only one doorway off this bus, and sooner or later you are going to have to take it. Any delay simply causes you more pain and suffering. Think about it, the only things you will carry from your earthly experience will be your spiritual growth and your doubts. Nothing else goes with you.
But change is necessary in order to evolve and become the person you were meant to be. However, when you can open up to change, life becomes a good deal easier. Then you are able to tap into the Universe's power and guidance. You are able to flow with the changes that are happening around you and can then learn to grow more easily from them. You are also able to connect with your true self. This can help you to create a life that is filled with joy, love, and abundance.
So what to do? Here are some steps that may help you. Start small. This is a big meal, so eat it one bite at a time.
Dealing With Your Beliefs
- Find a place of calm.
- Identify a conflict, either within yourself or with another person.
- Ask yourself “Why?” “What am I afraid of?” “What am I trying to protect?”
- Hold your part of this difficulty up to the light and ask to be shown what the truth is.
- Listen carefully. You may get just a few words or a brief image. (I hold up my self-doubt and it shatters. I hold up my lovability and I am surrounded by love and support.)
- You may encounter some interference, but stay with it, the truth (if you really want to hear it) will come through, although it may be subtle. Stay with what you get.
- Do what you need to do in order to resolve the situation.
What you hear will probably require some change on your part. This is where your commitment to change will be tested. Do what you can. If the solution poses problems, repeat the process. If you still have trouble, find a good shaman.
