Another lesson learned from Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet” is being responsible for your own happiness. Rilke explains to Kappos “If your everyday seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator there is not poverty and no poor, indifference place.”
We live in amazing time in an amazing world. Yes there are difficulties. Yes there is sadness, pain, suffering, and stress. Those are all givens. They are like the S. T, R, N, L, and E in the Wheel of Fortune game. What other four letters you chose are up to you. They will either help make the puzzle easier to solve, or impossible to solve. But it all comes down to you.
Life is what you make it. Where and what you focus your energy on is what will fill your life. Do you want to fill your life with awe, wonder, happiness, joy, connection, fun, etc. Or do you want to fill your life with worry, pain, sadness, and stress? The first step to living a life of happiness is to remove blame. Stop blaming other people, things, circumstances, etc. for your lack of happiness. Only you can make yourself happy. Happiness is an inside job. It is something that comes from within you. Once you stop placing blame, then start being grateful. Gratitude is a great way to see all the is beautiful in the world. Gratitude helps you see the world through the eyes of blessing and not worry. Even the smallest bits of gratitude will help you see the world differently.
Going forward, how will you choose to see the world? What will choose to focus on?