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Thich Nhat Hanh’s Brutally Honest Condition For Happiness
No single thing, experience or person should have that much power over my mental state.
Happiness is a practice, habit and way of life. I can’t pursue it as a goal. But I can invest in sources (activities and experiences) to ensure it’s naturally guaranteed. Too much focus on the end goal can backfire.
Spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh notes freedom is the only condition for happiness. But to get to freedom, you must let go of the many things that weigh you down.
Become lighter, and happiness will ensue.
“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything — anger, anxiety, or possessions — we cannot be free, Hanh said.
I used to hold on to anger. Many external experiences frustrated me. The more I thought about them, the more time I spent in my head. I felt bitter. It affected my mood. These days, I’m quick to let go. When I do, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I feel free. It’s doing wonders for my mood.
Buddha said, “The secret of happiness lies in the mind’s release from worldly ties.” Release your mind from everything that clouds your freedom. It’s the wisdom of nature — the cycle of…
