Do You Want What You Have?

I recently heard American Zen teacher Adyashanti speak, and I was struck by a very simple statement he made: "The key to happiness is wanting what you have and not wanting what you don't have."   Though I've heard that idea many times before, it really struck me-it's the same concept as being happy for no reason. Byron Katie calls it "loving what is." Even Sheryl Crow, in Soak up the Sun, sings:   "It's not having what you want It's wanting what you've got"    Now, I know what you're thinking: "This job? Or this body? Uh uh. I want something better!" But wanting what you have doesn't mean you don't also work to create better circumstances in your life. It means that you accept and enjoy what is, and you create change from that place of peace and appreciation. For example, you might say, "I want to be married, and I am cherishing that dream with all my heart. But right now I am NOT married. I am single. And so I'm going to find the joy in being single. I'm going to enjoy my life NOW, as it is."   Every situation can be viewed through the lens of "good" or the lens of "bad." Do you usually notice the lack and not the luster? Is your perfect life just out of reach and your actual life always disappointing? Consider this: Many visionaries teach that before we were born, our higher selves chose the circumstances in which we could best learn the lessons we need to learn in this lifetime. It's in dealing with those challenges that we learn and grow, and eventually become "awakened." So every demanding boss and every health challenge is like a fire hose cleaning off the mud that's obscuring the radiance of our divinity. Think for a moment about what you already have. You can increase your daily happiness quotient with these simple daily practices: 1. Every day for a week practice "wanting whatever shows up." Embrace the opportunities and challenges with gratitude. 2. Make a list of the biggest lessons you think you came to earth to learn. Make another list of some of the challenges you're facing in your life right now. For each challenge, think of ways it might be helping you learn your top lessons. 3. Look at your possessions with fresh eyes. What good things have you been overlooking? Most people are so addicted to buying more they fail to enjoy what they already have. Question your motivations when you feel driven to consume. It's great to have what you want in life. But you've passed the real test of life mastery-and hold a key to happiness-when you learn to want exactly what you already have. Happily, Marci Shimoff

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