The True Joy in Life A quote from George Bernard Shaw
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy”
People don’t generally seem to be happy if they live exclusively for themselves. And it’s usually unhappy people who are seeking happiness the most.
While on the other hand, the most contented and happy people are usually the ones who have tapped into a really meaningful life that is full of the experience of living. This seems to feed people from the inside out instead of from the outside in. It taps into our true nature and generally brings about a wholeness to our existence. It’s a feel-good that warms the heart.
In the spiritual world, it is said that service is the high road to waking up. The giving of one’s self in service for the betterment of humanity unconditionally. When no one is looking is the implied sense of meaning here. And by meaning, I mean as an experience which is a fundamental way of being.
The ego would like the recognition and accolades, which is a kind of look at me see what I have done. Service is not about being seen. It’s easy to be noble if you are being seen.
But to serve with no expectations other than to just to give can bring some of lives greatest happiness. Being a parent can bring some of those moments of happiness. Although some parents might disagree.
Service can be as easy as time and attention, just giving a little of our time and attention to someone can change someone’s day. It can be many things, volunteering for a worthy cause, helping the neighbour. It could mean finding your “why”—your purpose the reason for being.
Trust yourself to act purposefully, no matter how small an act we can have an impact or maybe even change someone’s life.
A raindrop falls to a leaf which collects with another, to build momentum to bend the leaf and fall to the ground. Where a small pool of water collects and flows to a stream that feeds a river and flows to the sea to become one with the ocean.
If you were to ask yourself what am I in service too, how would you answer?
Carpe Diem Shuka