Tears Are Not Enough
When something disappointing or frustrating happens, when someone is betrayed by a loved one or loses a friend they have had for many years there is a feeling of shock maybe anger and then maybe sadness. We cry and feel very out of sorts and sometimes sorry for ourselves.
We at the Double Happiness Fitness Corporation have noticed this in ourselves many times. The body gets all contracted and feels like it is hovering very protectively around a wound as if to say, "Be careful, don't touch this, it hurts!" On the other hand, we need someone to share this hurt with so we try to find a friend who will compassionately listen to our sad story. And if the person we have chosen to share our story with is empathetic, quiet and a kind listener, we usually feel better after sharing our hurt with them and maybe even crying about it some more. Then the body relaxes and we don't feel the need to be so contracted around our pain.
This opens up a kind of space in our perception where we can begin to see and appreciate all the things that are still all right in our life, outside and even in the room where we may be sitting. We slowly begin to notice the lovely flowers in the vase or the wonderful aroma of dinner cooking on the stove. We notice perhaps that it is stormy and raining outside but we are nice and comfortable and warm here inside with our friend. Then our friend might say something funny to try and cheer us up or remind us how much worse the situation could have been. We may even smile or maybe laugh with our friend about their funny remarks. This is a wonderful thing! The ability to see beyond the painful situation gives us the strength to go forward with our life even though we still feel the pain of the sadness.
This practice of seeing the bigger picture of our life is one of the most important happiness fitness exercises that we present at the corporation.