The Everyday Alchemist’s Happiness Handbook

Fortunately, the kind of Happiness that comes from within has no such strings attached. It’s not dependent upon what’s happening “out there.” Its flow—and our perception of it—can be cultivated, and that connection can never be lost. And although it may be ever-changing, it remains constant, like a river with an unending spring at its source.

For sure, certain situations may restrict its flow and challenge our perception of it, but when that happens it can, with practice, be used as an opportunity to widen the riverbanks and deepen the riverbeds so we can hold more of the Happiness that’s infinitely available to us. So the ultimate aim of this book is to share tools and ideas that can inspire and feed your own, personal flow of Happiness, as well as ways to bring you the energy you need to find your way back to the river any time you lose sight of it. (In my case, this happens quite a lot, hence my confidence in the following techniques—they’ve been vigorously road-tested by me.)

For many of us, everyday life is hectic. It’s full. It’s busy. It’s work. It’s relationships, or a lack thereof. It’s kids, or a lack thereof. It’s overgrown gardens. It’s Facebook. It’s up. It’s down. And it’s potentially exhausting. So whilst the idea of removing yourself from all this, moving to a mountainside retreat and contemplating your eternal nature may be highly appealing, it’s really not that practical on a long-term basis. At least, not if you have a career or kids. Everyday life is here now, which means our Happiness is, too. But the two tend to act like distant relatives instead of the entwined lovers that they really are—hence the need for timely reminders that help us bridge the gap between who we are when sitting peacefully by the river and how we act whilst running around getting things done.

I needed a lot of reminding. As a mother running my own business, maintaining an intimate relationship, and enjoying a social life, necessity has meant that I sought out tools and teachers that would not only inspire inner Happiness but that could fit into a normal, busy schedule. I wanted ways to be free from the repetitive habits and reactions that were weighing me down. And I wanted the energy and motivation to act on all the stuff I already “knew” but seemed unable to apply in everyday life.

Happily, some 10 years down the river of seeking, losing, finding, trying and applying, I have found the energy I was looking for.

Now I tend to experience Happiness in a less needy way. Not as a state   to strive for, but one that comes when I let go of striving—as a kind of presence, a palpable energy, inside us all that’s there for us to connect with anytime we want. I find that the more I practice noticing its presence in my day-to-day life, the more it reveals itself to me. There have even been times when I’ve accessed it, sometimes seemingly against my will, in moments of darkness and utter despair. As a result, I have come to see that Happiness is something I can choose to connect with, and it’s available to anyone and everyone who wishes to experience it.