Happiness
The next few pages are about increasing inner and outer levels of awareness. The purpose is to show you how to be happy even when you’re not! How so? Well, happiness does not exist at a constant level. For instance, some days, for whatever reason, you may be less happier than you were the previous day. That is absolutely normal. However, the secret is to be happy with the ups…. and, the downs. The reason for starting with happiness first is quite logical. It is easier to attain great health and wealth when you are feeling happy, especially with yourself. I want to show you how to achieve this by using some very simple to follow methods. I am not going to go into complicated explanations regarding the inner workings of these methods, because you will see for yourself as you proceed. When you put these methods into practice, you will have then gained the experience, therefore your understanding will grow. It is by far the best way to learn.
We will begin with Emotions and Nature then some Mind Clearance followed by Attitude Changes.
Lets go!
Emotions and Nature
How are you right now this very moment? Do you have things on your mind? What emotions are you feeling? Ponderous? Happiness? Sadness or Grief? Anger? When you are feeling ponderous, do you have somewhere to go that is quiet, enabling you to think, freely? When you are feeling happy, do you have a place to visit, just to be yourself and appreciate life? When feeling the pain of sadness or grief, is there somewhere special you can be to let that pain out, allowing healing to proceed? When feeling angry, do you have somewhere to go to help you calm down? Allow me now to share with you, some unique ways of how I use Nature to help me deal with my emotions. Its very rewarding, sometimes fun, and its free!
When I’m feeling ponderous, or have a few problems that need to be thought out, I travel a short distance, to a chosen hillside in a beautiful part of the countryside, overlooking an old village, a working farm and wonderful views over rolling hills. There is a farm gate, under a very old oak tree. I call this my thinking gate, which I sit on, sometimes for hours, just taking in the picturesque surroundings. Such a calm peaceful place. Within a short period of time, my perspective alters. My mind clears and solutions to any problems, present themselves clearly, as I connect with Natures wondrous soothing beauty. I know when I am ready to leave, because I feel good, like a recharged battery, ready to face the world and all its challenges with renewed vigour.
When I’m feeling happy, sometimes I just want be somewhere different, where I can simply appreciate life. There is a particular old village I love to visit, which has a tremendous feel good factor about it. Set in a beautiful valley, surrounded by forest and fields, a wonderful ancient church, an old fashioned grocery store, and a Traditional Public House. There I can amble around freely, being myself, feeling gratitude and appreciation for all around me and within me. I’ll pop in to the Grocers and buy myself an ice cream (strawberry is my favourite). I’ll wander around the churchyard, ice cream in hand, admiring the architecture, the massive Pine tree and the flint walls. I may sit a while and relax on one of the old oak benches near the church entrance, just watching as others happily stroll by. Often, a large bird of prey, a Red Kite, will fly low over the village. What a wonderful sight, true masters of the air. I don’t miss a thing. Later, maybe, I’ll drop into the village Pub and enjoy a glass of red wine, and soak up the atmosphere inside. The old oak beams, the brick built fireplace, and the friendly chatter going on in the background. When I’m ready to leave, boy am I relaxed, (best meditation method I know) and I’ll sleep well that night as I relive and appreciate the memory of the whole day!
In the past, when experiencing painful feelings of sadness or grief, I found walking in a forest (fortunately for me, only three miles way) on my own very comforting. I was able to let my emotions out openly, freely, thus encouraging healing. For example. Let me share with you one particular occasion. I had been suffering grief for some time, over the loss of a loved one. 
The pain was almost unbearable. It was a cold and windy day and it was raining hard. I put on a waterproof jacket, jumped into my car and drove to the forest. There I parked up, and walked amongst the trees. I was feeling so emotional that I let go and just cried without inhibition. I remember the wind blowing the rain against my face washing my tears away. I walked for a couple of hours or more continually letting my emotions flow. I was aware that even whilst experiencing feelings of despair, I was able to focus on the natural beauty of the trees, bushes and bracken all swaying with the wind and glistening in the rain. Slowly as I started back towards where I had parked my car, I could feel a slight sense of relief. Being in the powerful rawness of Nature was having a positive effect. Healing was starting to take effect, and I could sense it, gratefully.
I revisited the forest several times, soon after, for the same purpose and it gave me such great comfort. I shall never forget the experience.
If for some reason, I’m feeling angry, (seldom nowadays I hasten to add) I travel to a particular part of a favourite river. There is a large weir separating two levels of water. It stretches diagonally from one side of the river to the other. Powerful white water crashes over it noisily day and night. A steel walkway, built for pedestrian access allows me to use the weir to cross the river, to get to the other side. I stroll along the walkway, eyes fixed on the crashing waters beneath me. Proceeding slowly, listening to the intense noise and feeling the powerful vibrations through my entire body, my thoughts change, as I am distracted by the incredible beauty and amazing power of Nature. Continuing until I reach the other side of the river, I walk slowly along the embankment, stopping beside calmer waters where I will sit in the long grass, relax and take in the entire surrounding atmosphere. Within a short period of time my anger subsides, just like the crashing water tumbling over the weir, as I watch it travel down river, it becomes calm and serene, so do I, enabling me to put my thoughts into perspective.
So, you get my drift? I have shown you by my own examples, a few easy methods of helping to deal with emotions in simple, but highly rewarding ways using Nature and natural resources. You may have a few ideas of your own, so get out there and explore, see what works for you, but please remember, try to keep within the basic format I have shown you. It works well.
So much to choose from. Coasts, Rivers, Canals, Waterfalls, Geysers, Locks, Local Parks, National Parks. Search and you will find!
