The Fall of man.
Jack E Stowe

In “The Footsteps of man” we have seen man progress and grow in strength and knowledge but not in happiness. It seems quite the opposite The more we learn the harder it is to find happiness. I think that this is because we have forgotten that happiness is the most important goal in life for when we die it is the only thing we will take with you.. Happiness is the only goal in life

We lost sight of the goal of happiness when we made other goals more important. The happiness of sharing was lost when we let others do our work for us. Our feelings of piece were lost when others could take what we have. Our self-esteem was lost when others could do or have what we could not.

Every negative thing in our lives comes from wanting that which we do not have. Every positive thing in our life comes from what we do have. We have been taught what is important, what we need, and what is right and wrong. What we have not been taught is how to be happy. No one can teach us that because it is our natural condition. They can only teach us how to be unhappy.

Just as our eyes interpret what we see our emotions interpret how well we are living. The better we are living the happier we are. All feelings of discomfort are indications that we are creating negative thoughts and need to change our focus. We have been taught that feelings are important and that what we feel and what others feel is important. We work so hard to feel good, to not hurt other people’s feelings, to make others happy and so on. Feelings are just our body’s reaction to our thoughts. We can change our feelings at any time because they are our thoughts. We can never change the feelings of any one else. We have no control over their thoughts. We can offer them our opinion and new information for their consideration but their thoughts are always theirs. We can never make anyone happy or sad for they are that way because of what they are thinking.

We do not affect the world by what we think and feel but only by what we do. Our thoughts and feelings are just indicators of how our actions will affect things. Happy thoughts will lead to happy actions. Loving thoughts will lead to loving actions. Painful thoughts will lead to disaster.

The very first thing that man learned was that he could do nothing alone. He learned that he needed to share with others. The more we shared the better life became. But the erroneous belief that there was not enough to share led to competition. Instead of working with others to create what was wanted we started to use others to take what we wanted. What we had became more important to us than what we created. The goal was more important than how we achieved it, and the destination more important than the trip. The joy, satisfaction, and excitement of living were lost in the hopes and fears of its outcome. Death became more important than life.

All laws, rules, sins, and beliefs are created to protect us and the things we value. No mater how well meaning they are they offer no protection. There can be no protection from life. Life can not be regulated only lived. There is nothing in this world that can help or hinder us from living. Every day and every thought is yours to use as we will. We have brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing out so how important is what we do or acquire in your every day life. Every day is yours to live as we see fit and the only thing we can take from it is your memories.

Despite all the pain and unhappiness we have caused ourselves in the past we continue to learn and grow. Every pain we have ever suffered has brought us knowledge of how to avoid it in the future. Every choice we have made has brought us insight into how things work. We can look at any painful situation and see the mistaken beliefs that led to it in our own lives and in history. When we do this we will soon see what we must do to make our own lives better. The best way to teach is by example so by making our own lives more satisfying we will make it easer for those around us and for our children to also find happiness. Only we can make our life better.

Wealth, power, popularity, health, or love does not bring happiness. Happiness is not what we get but is a part of us. To try to find happiness is a meaningless task. Every pain every war every broken heart is a useless attempt to fine happiness. If we are truly to be happy we must look for it in the only place it will ever be, inside us. We must look at our feelings and let go of the thoughts that are making us unhappy. The world is a perfect place full of things to enjoy and appreciate. We can not find happiness only lose it.

thanks for sharing