Rules of Happiness - Happiness Is Only Ever Now

“Few of us ever live in the present, we are forever

anticipating what is to come or remembering

what has gone.” - Louis L'Armor

Many pubs in the United Kingdom have an infamous sign
hanging above the bar:

“Free Beer Tomorrow!”

It’s funny because, of course, “tomorrow” never comes.

But when you think about it, how many of us truly live our
lives like that?

We spend so much time waiting to be happy in the future, or
worrying about the past, that we forget to live in the moment.
We fail to realise that happiness can only EVER be now.

Let me give you an example. You’re driving through the city
and your favourite song hits the radio. You’re stuck in traffic,

but loving the music – and you start to crazily sing along.
You really get into it. You’re in the moment. But then you
catch a few jealous faces in nearby cars, and go all shy and
timid.

Suddenly you’re no longer living in the moment. You’re
wondering what they’ll think about you. You’re concerned
they’ll disapprove. You freeze up. Your happiness has gone,
and your inhibition has arrived. You’re no longer in the
moment, in the NOW – you’re stuck thinking about wanting
approval from these people, worried what they’ll think of
you outside that moment.

Right?

Try to catch yourself at some random point today – and just
check what’s on your mind. If you’re like most people, you’ll
be somewhere other than here and now.


You’ll be thinking about whether you made a good
impression with that guy earlier today. You might be
thinking about the holiday you have planned for next
September. Or how all of your problems will be solved this
time next year.

You’ll be anywhere but in the MOMENT. In fact, we each
spend 95% of our time in the past or the future.

But here’s the thing: Life is transient. The past has gone. The
future is just a dream. The only time that truly exists ever is
RIGHT NOW.

In other words, RIGHT NOW is the ONLY time you can do
or change ANYTHING in your life.


You are only ever what exists in THIS MOMENT.

So, are you HAPPY right now? Are you doing
EVERYTHING you’d like to – and feeling THRILLED with
life, as you read these words? If you’re not, then make the
decision to be happy. NOW.

And if you’d like, put down this book, and go fly a kite. Or tell
your partner that you love them. Or get your groovy flares on
and head out to the nearby disco.

NOW is the only time you can change anything. And NOW
is the only time you have.

So, make that simple decision – to be happy NOW.

THE 18 RULES of HAPPINESS, Karl Moore