And it’s much more valid coming from Ben Lee than, for example, these people:
– Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, or the other one
– Lance Armstrong
– Miley Cyrus
– Billy Ray Cyrus
– That uncle of yours who’s totally lost the plot and hasn’t got a clue
– That guy who yelled at you in traffic that time, because ‘Learn how to drive, you moron.’
And there’s a lot more people on that list…
It’s amazing how you can trick your mind into believing things. If I think to myself that I’m a 45 year-old stunt motorbike rider called Harold or a Victoria’s Secret model named Jessie, for a second I can actually believe it’s true. That is until I’m confronted by the facts and clearly see I am not either of those.
Acting your way into behaviour
Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘I’ll be happy when… [insert some arbitrary future milestone or event here]? (Which, by the way, could actually be disappointing or at least anti-climactic when it actually happens)? I know I have. Instead of that, if you think to yourself, ‘I am happy, and if [ arbitrary future milestone] happens it’ll be a bonus’ it has a powerful effect on how content you are now and how worried you are about the future. And if after the 1-2 second rush of that ‘I’m happy’ thought dies and you think, ‘But, am I really?’ look at the facts: you’re alive, breathing, and have control over your mind to think whatever you want.’ There’s only one thing that’s certain: one day, you will be dead. And at this moment you are not. And that’s pretty cool.
Wanna be happy? Okay. Think it. Boom. Now you are. Congratulations and you’re welcome.
Yesterday I wrote about how this Shakespeare quote from Hamlet told us that we don’t control what happens to us, but we do have 100% control of what we think about it, and how we decide to see it. (At least that’s what I think he meant). That despite some things being shitty, and not having everything we want, we still have full control over our mind, and to think, ‘I’m happy’.
Happiness is not the end goal –it’s the starting point, the catalyst for more good things and the first step towards more happiness. And at least that’s what I think Ben Lee meant here (from his album Ayahuasca: Welcome to the Work):