“The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.”–Storm Jameson 
When asked the secret to life, Thich Nhat Hahn, the amazing Vietnamese Buddhist monk, said, “Get up later in the morning and smile more.”
What?
Isn’t that the exact opposite of everything we’ve been taught? The early bird gets the worm. It’s important to work your ass off. And as for smiling? Who has time? I’ll smile more next weekend. After work.
I would like to suggest—as I do in all my books, in all my blog posts—that most of what we learned about life is wrong. When you relax and smile and trust that life actually wants you to succeed and wants you to be happy, then life has a pathway to slip in and show you the miracles.
When you resist (the state of choice for most of us), Truth can’t find a way in. It’s always there, waiting on the outskirts, waiting faithfully like the Jack Russell terrier who noticed you just opened the cabinet where you keep its treats. But until you let go of all the worrying and doubting and stubbornness that you’re doing something wrong, that there’s something that still needs fixing, it can’t do its blessed thing.
As for catching that worm? When you play and have fun, you can’t help but do good work. You can’t help but succeed when you’re doing what you love. Because when you love something, your entire heart goes in. Ask Carlos Santana. Ask Elizabeth Gilbert. Ask Steve Jobs—well, ask him if you happen to be doing a séance, something my junior high friends and I did at every slumber party.
The point I’m trying to make is there is only ONE THING you need to do. Smile, relax and trust, which as Carlos Santana said in a recent interview with Dan Rather, creates thrust.
I’m doing my first Google hangout today. And I’ll be in Miami at the S.H.I.N.E. event this Sunday. And until then, my oh-so-cool daughter, Taz, is home for fall break.
Sending you lot of love and good vibes,
Pam Grout is the author of 17 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and its equally-scintillating sequel, E-Cubed, 9 More Experiments that Prove Mirth, Magic and Merriment
17 Responses
Sometimes is hard to trust that the path is unfolding, most of the time -like you some sort said- because our culture have told us that you must work hard to achieve your goals, so doing nothing and not seeing that something great is expecting you make us anxious; basically my question is, how you would know when you have to do something to make your dreams come true?
You know. When you’re on that joy frequency, there is no mistaking the guidance. It’s all clear.
Love this. Yes yes and yes.
Favorite line: “When you relax and smile and trust that life actually wants you to succeed and wants you to be happy, then life has a pathway to slip in and show you the miracles.”
Second favorite line: “I would like to suggest—as I do in all my books, in all my blog posts—that most of what we learned about life is wrong.”
Thanks for getting out the good word! Julianna
(ps – typo on Santana.)
Say Hi to Taz. Peter V.
I’m doing my first Google hangout today. And I’ll be in Miami at the S.H.I.N.E. event this Sunday. And until then, my oh-so-cool daughter, Taz, is home for fall break.
Will do, Pete!
Thanks, Pam! I needed this reminder today. It’s such a habit to make things work, that i can even turn feeling good into a project that stresses me out. Today, I’m going to ride the river of well-being and watch the scenery.
Love it! Ride that river, Mary!
Hi, Pam–
This post gives me the opportunity to say something I’ve wanted to for a loooong time. Whenever I open your blog and see your opening comment about “squandering your time watching reruns of ‘I Love Lucy,’ ” I want to ask, “What’s wrong with that?”
These days I need all the laughs I can get, and even after seeing every episode a gazillion times over the last 60 years, they still make me feel good in the morning, and I much prefer them to the depressing fare on other stations. Maybe I don’t get belly laughs from her any more, but the shows always make me smile.
I always dread Nov. & Dec. when the Hallmark Channel replaces her w/ Christmas movies, even tho’ I have all the Lucy episodes on disk. It’s so easy to turn her on as cheerful background while I’m cleaning up the kitchen, watering plants, feeding the cats & just generally getting ready for the day ahead. I don’t feel that’s “squandering.” It’s more like squeezing out every laugh I can get, wherever I can.
Maybe you can make your opening point without a daily jab at us Lucy fans?
Thanks (and can’t wait for your next book!) . . .
Wow! Good point! Like you, I LOVE Lucy. I wrote that intro when I was writing Art and Soul many years ago. Being creative (not lulling myself to sleep with TV) was my point then. But Lucy, laughing, love and all the other “L” words are lip-smacking (couldn’t think of another L word) fun!!!
I was feeling a little down today…not all bad…processing something big. But I saw your name in my inbox and my eyes lit up. You lighten my spirit with your writings! Thank you!!
Thank you Pam for all your good words, thoughts and stories.
You always make me smile and feel better.
Bless your heart! You are a good soul!
Sharon 🙂
Thanks, Sharon. You’re a good soul for saying so.
Thank you SO MUCH! I love lighting up eyes. And spirits. And anything else.
Thanks once again for starting my day off with a positive, joyful intention!!
Great post! I intend to experiment with this one despite the negativity at my job all day, every day.