Brick #4: The big lie or the forgotten currency

Ever wonder how come people rarely asked "Are you happy?" instead of the usual "How are you?" or even worse, "how are THINGS". I just did...  Perhaps society doesn't put as much value on the currency that is happiness vs physical/material well-being.

I believe Happiness is actually the "end" currency for which we are trading everything for...All that work, time, sacrifices and also money... And when we aren't living life the way we want or doing the things we want, we are actually trading for what I like to call (elusive) Happiness Futures.

I'm thinking this might be because of the (wrong?) idea that the external, the physical world reigns over the internal, the mind or even deeper, the heart.  Doesn't everything that happens outside, well, at least most of what happens around you came from an idea that was driven from a desire deep inside of us?

Heart->Hands->things that happen to us

I often have to remind myself to do a self-assessment to check up on my happiness level to know if I'm actually heading the right direction. Perhaps the people who aren't doing it are afraid to open a pandora's box and find out the scary truth that they'll have to change a lot of things? I think this is because the mind often guards us from effort, but that same mechanism of protection often keeps us from doing what makes us happy or getting us on the path where we are most likely going to be (from experience being on the path IS a great -if not the greatest- source of happiness as well).  I can see that happen to so many people around me (including myself at times).

Let me know if this rings true to anyone that's listening:

1. It's totally ok to want money to get to a certain level of comfort (I think contrary to popular belief, this level should be relatively the same for everyone... A decent rooftop, some form of entertainment, non-isolation, decent variety of food, etc..)

2. It absolutely critical to realize the point where there is a diminishing return on the money (a.k.a. no-fun work-time) you throw at life for the dwindling amount of Happiness you get in exchange. Finding and staying conscious of that tipping point is essential starting the good life and finally being able to stop believing in the Big Lie that's been told to us up until now.

Try this at home

What if you decided to only NEED something when you can really (and I mean REALLY) afford it?

The circle

Sense of accomplishment supports happiness.
Accomplishment needs a healthy stress.
Healthy stress is complemented by a supportive relationship.
The need for a supporting relationship keeps the bond strong and avoids bifurcation.
The security in a healthy, intimate relationship also supports happiness.

Brick #2: Deprivation

On "deprivation". (when an event  might not re-occur)
Stop thinking.
Everything you really have is in the NOW. If you let  the moment go by letting your thoughts linger in the uncertainty that offers the future, all of the happiness contained in the moment, that should have been entirely savored, will be indeed lost forever and you will have had NOTHING at all.

A brick on the wall

• To eliminate minor setbacks' (all setbacks are minor because they are remediable) impact to your mood 
• Use humor
• Remember that they are the learning blocks in building a better you
• Never allow yourself to wallow in self pity, self questioning or self deprecation. 
• Celebrate your victories with fervor. They will shrink the magnitude of the effect failures and mistakes make on your mind state.