Happiness and unhappiness are in fact one...

Happiness and unhappiness are in fact one. Only the illusion of time separates them... (Tolle)

WE create happiness. It is not caused by something "out there." WE also create unhappiness. It is not the result of anything "out there" either.

I can hear you groaning already, "I've heard all this 'New Age' stuff before, blah, blah, blah..." You are resistant to this, because you don't want it to be true. Why? Because if this is true then you are responsible for your unhappiness, and you don't want that. You want to be able to blame something outside of yourself. "All right," I hear you say, "how it it my responsibility?!"

It begins with YOUR judgment. When you experience a "form" you judge to be GOOD, whether it be an experience, a possession, a relationship, a place, an opinion, etc., your mind attaches itself to it, and identifies with it. What you judge as GOOD, makes you feel "happy," makes you feel good about yourself, and you make it part of yourself, and as how things are supposed to be. A young boy who finds himself very good at being the high school quarterback attaches that GOOD feeling about himself. It becomes his identity. When he is not able to continue being the object of attention later in life, when the identity disappears, he beomes unhappy. The situation (form) that once made him happy, now makes him unhappy.

When whatever form the mind has attached itself to and identified with changes, your mind cannot accept it. It resists this. It clings mightily to the form which provided so much happiness, and now experiences unhappiness. So indeed, happiness and unhappiness are in fact one. Only the illusion of time separates them... (Tolle)

Change is the fuel of growth. "All things must pass," as the late George Harrison said. If you cling to forms, and resist change, you will suffer. Unhappiness will be your companion. The sad part is you will blame the change as the cause of your unhappiness. In fact, it is your identification with a "form" that your mind/Ego has attached itself to that is the culprit. Once again, you don't want this to be true, and your Ego will fight you tooth and nail to maintain control. Your Ego/mind wants to frame the discussion in a way that removes YOU from any responsibility.

Today, BEgin to realize that it is YOUR judgements, that turn into attachments and identities, that are causing your happiness/unhappiness. Stop labelling things as good or bad. Nothing is intrinsically good or bad,  YOU are the cause of them being good or bad. BEgin to offer no resistance to life. This is the true state of "grace," a state where the condition of your BEing no longer relies on things being a certain way, good or bad...

Duffy

I must give credit to Eckhart Tolle for his infinte wisdom. If you would like a greater understanding of the principles in this post, read his "The Power of Now."