Val enjoys writing prose in rhymes by always leaving a message of a life truism in each piece.

Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.

-- Roy T. Bennett

Introduction

It has to take some time -- and it depends on us how long -- to undo some lousy emotional routines after they have been practiced for who knows how long. Unfortunately, there is no switch in our neuro-endocrine system to make it happen overnight.

So we have to be clear about what we are going against in our nature before understanding any steps in a positive direction. Practice makes it perfect, and we ultimately become whatever we have practiced.

Happiness is to be viewed as a mental skill, not as a result of some favorable circumstances that we have achieved through hard work, or by being lucky. You won't see many happy and healthy billionaires who spent their lives pushing an illusion that money would buy them that best of life that's free.

Unfortunately we live in a materialistically oriented world where such illusions are widespread like favorite superstitions -- one being called "American Dream". Success is everywhere defined as the end result of hard work and good winning strategies -- and often presented as an attainment of happiness.

We can't by ourselves happiness, and neither can we talk ourselves into it, because only imagination can arouse those happy states which we are to keep duplicating until they become our second nature.

Indeed, it's up to our imagination to create a new intimate reality, as we are picturing ourselves as if already having achieved happiness. How would we act as a happy person? -- then act that way. What would our facial expressions, and our posture be? -- then be that way.

The next pieces of my prose in rhymes depict those states before and after we have decided to make the steps from gloom to cheer.

All Worries for Nothing

Sorry to remind you of your mortal status

it was not meant to be point of this story

but life has to come to that last hiatus

not ending only fun, but also worry.

How is it fair that after an expertise achieved

after all that practice of worrying and fuss

we end up so surprised and deceived

with no dreaded crap befalling us.

So there we are, a bunch of old geezers

at end of our rope all wrinkled and sterile

pale and fragile as if came from freezers

but so proud to have avoided every peril.

For, life was full of threats, from ills to disasters

and getting ready with worry was a thing to do

so that's how we became worrying masters

though ruining happiness and health too.

So, what's really the deal with this addiction

with this abuse of our morbid imagination

for it's nothing else but the mind's fiction

sabotaging joy and a healthy elation.

Let's think for a moment about that last day

and memories of crap that never took place

and just consider how much we could delay

all the crappy aging worry pus on our face.

Nerves are our biggest treasure

no money could buy us a new set

we need them good for our pleasure

losing them brings us so much regret

So do your best to save your precious nerves

from unnecessary rackets, whether big or small

that's one of things that your life surely deserves

without which your efforts amount to nothing at all.

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile is the source of your joy.

-- Thich Nhat Hanh

Step Out of Your Own Way

To achieve happiness is easy

just step out of your own way

with that mind being too busy

and allow heart to have a say.

You already know it can't be bought

though many have tried - to no avail

depreciating what they've already got

it's such a sure recipe to miserably fail.

Money can buy us a satisfaction

while heart is still void of a true joy

a reward for some strenuous action

oftentimes mixed with things that annoy.

For in a struggle to achieve success

we're losing the ability to happily unwind

it's the painful path for a continuous stress

so we just mentally practice for a pissed mind.

Thus, again, step aside with that busy mind

and your heart will know exactly what to do

don't sabotage something you want to find

whatever you are seeking it's seeking you.

When we practice feeling crappy

for so many years, if not decades

we can't expect to become happy

like waiting for sunshine in shades.

We may decide to inspire happy change

by thinking thoughts of positive kind

only to discover something strange

that heart refuses to follow mind.

So we drop the whole project feeling phony

sure that happiness is but a crazy dream

those books being a bunch of baloney

writers' gimmick, a cheap scheme.

But if we honestly examine our heart

the one rejecting idea of turning happy

we just might arrive to something smart

that no new habits can be formed snappy.

So if you want to feel great most of the day

start by wiping that frown off your brow

for it's the only truly promising way

to smile a lot in here and now.

© 2020 Val Karas

Comments

Val Karas (author) from Canada on November 28, 2020:

Thank you, Brenda, I am happy you liked them.

BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on November 27, 2020:

Val,

These are great.

It is hard to change our hearts desire but you are correct that we must think like we already have what we want.

We must smike even when our heart doesn't want too.

Great writes.