Mandy Trapp is a certified personal fitness trainer, holistic health practicioner, and ayurvedic lifestyle coach, with over a decade of experience in the arena of holistic health. She owns and operates an ayurvedic lifestyle center in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and, is a highly sought after teacher in her field of expertise. Currently, she runs workshops, facilitates seminars and lectures all over Canada and the United States.
The Pursuit of Happiness
When the phrase “the pursuit of happiness” was first put to paper, a dream, a desire and a nation was born. Since this defining moment, millions have sacrificed their lives to flee to the “promised land” and still continue to do so in hopes of pursuing an idea that has been reshaped and remolded over countless decades to an idea that is perhaps so abstract that we may as well be chasing a rainbow and trying to hold it in our hands. And, it is not only those that sacrifice family, life and limb to land on this great continent, those too, born into freedom and choice, seem to have inherited this dream and have been thrust into this race from the moment that air hits their lungs for the very first time.
So after hundreds of years with no avail, it seems as though perhaps, we may be chasing something that either doesn’t exist and cannot be held in the palm of hands, or touched by the skin on our cheeks. Or, maybe it has been lurking all along under the covers on our beds, or around the corners of our minds And, if this is the case, then what is all of this business anyway of the pursuit of happiness if it has been with us all of this time?
To reflect upon this journey of mountains and valleys, triumph and turmoil and joy and heartache that the people of this planet have been on since these deeply moving words were tattooed into our minds and onto our bodies, one cannot help but to notice the pain and suffering that has been the ultimate result. And, not only pain and suffering of the human race, but also the pain and suffering that we have caused our planet as well as all inhabitants, human and animal.
The word pursuit is defined as a hunt, a search or a chase. The pursuit of happiness is then realized as hunting for a feeling of joy, fulfillment and purpose. As abstract as this seems, this idea that has been created has forced individuals to become detached from the spirit within themselves and live from a space of need, wants and must-haves.
Because happiness is therefore not tangible, will we ever as human beings, be able to pursue, catch and hold “happiness”?
Oprah friend and guest speaker , Rabbi Shmuley, was quoted as saying that, “happiness is not something to be pursued. Rather, happiness is a by-product of living a life of purpose”
So, once again, if happiness is strongly desired, we are forced to strip away the layers of the doing and having that have held consequences of their own, with evidence of current conflicts, economic devestation, and personal suffering, and get back to a state of simply being rather than doing and chasing. Regardless of sex, race or religion, each and every one of us was granted the air in our lungs and the blood in our veins to inhabit this earth for the purpose of betterment for ourselves and others. As unique as every single snowflake, so are we. Talents, and gifts, simple or complicated, every individual has the born ability to live a life of power, freedom, joy and grace as a result simply being an expression of these unique purposes.
So, the next time you find yourself riding the rollercoaster of happiness, or chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, look inside yourself and reconnect with the bliss that already is waiting patiently to be discovered.
Namaste.
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