Mental Health and Happiness

If one was to ask you what is your purpose and meaning in life, we could safely say it is the pursuit of happiness. Easier said than done. So how does one go about it? One simple answer would be to climb Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Start at the bottom where humans are motivated to fulfil their basic needs such as food, shelter, and sleep and gradually secure a safe environment for oneself. Develop the capacity to love and to be loved which leads to a greater sense of self-esteem. And finally after a life’s journey one may reach self-actualisation or this may take many lives.

To achieve this path, or what Joseph Campbell referred to as the Hero’s Journey, takes inspiration. This is where we are mentally stimulated to do something. It is the start of creating our own reality, living our life and not allowing others to write our life script for us.

There are so many sources of inspiration such as experiences, people, books, nature, art and music. I find quotations work for me in many areas of life and I’ll share some of the ones that motivate me into exploring many aspects of life.

Have a look and see if any of the following ones inspire you to do something that may make your life a bit happier.

These are some quotes from Mahatma Gandhi, the great Hindu thinker, lawyer, and politician:

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”           

“The soul dries up without the company of the good”

“Do not listen to rumour, but, if you do, do not believe it”.

According to James Allen, a British philosophical writer, “The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs”.

Bruce Lipton, a Cell Biologist, explains that

“Thoughts, the mind’s energy, directly influence how the physical brain controls the body’s physiology”.  

“To realize that you are not your thoughts is when you begin to awaken spiritually” Eckhart Tolle, author and spiritual teacher.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious it will direct your life and you will call it fate”. Carl Jung (Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst ). According to Jung the unconscious is the “Guide and advisor to the conscious mind”.

That’s it for now. If you are inspired to discuss any of these in greater depth please do not hesitate to contact me on 087-2555974.

Dan Boland