Why I believe in being unconstitutionally happy

“People and circumstances don’t make me happy. I can get there all by myself.”—Carla from my gratitude posse

 

When texting her three blessings a couple days ago, Carla wrote that she was grateful for “unconstitutional happiness.” She quickly amended it, explained that autocorrect changed what was supposed to be “unconditional happiness” to “unconstitutional happiness.”

Several of us texted back, “but we like unconstitutional happiness.”

Here’s why. The 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, borrowing from the famous line in the Declaration of Independence, guarantees all of us the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Unconstitutional is my preference because pursuing happiness doesn’t work. It puts us in the position of being constant seekers. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of seeking, tired of waiting for that thing I’m supposed to find someday. Happiness isn’t far away at the top of some mountain. It is always right here, in the here and now. This moment.

We don’t need another book, another seminar, another practice. We got this. It’s etched into our DNA. The only problem, ever, is our misperception. What if we let go of all our illusions, our beliefs that there’s something we have to do? What if we just stopped and looked around and realized, “Wow! What a cool world I live in.”

I’ve posted this before (it’s from Matt Harding who I interviewed for one of my National Geographic books), but it’s such a great celebration that it bears periodic repeating.

Have the best weekend of your lives, my friends.

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 is your Full-time Gig.