HAPPINESS (CONTEXT)

A bit like fish are born into water,
We were born into a soup of pre-existing Contextual Conditions
(eg.  just within the labour suite there may be "joyfulness" and "fearfulness", to name but two).
Contexts and Conditions are both states of being
(eg. happiness, sadness. jealousness, joyfulness)
And we were coincidentally born into a specific mixture of them;
We didn't have any choice about that.
We were wrapped in them, like some swaddling cloak of virtual reality
And we began, from the very first moment of consciousness,
To engage with the world
From behind the perceptual filtering
Of whatever conditions we showed up in.
As we grew up, we succumbed to, and unthinkingly adopted more prevailing conditions
That fitted through the swaddling filtering we already had "protecting" us,
Adding daily to the complexity of, and reinforcing our prevailing  emotional and mental states.
Our view of the world and our ability to be flexible in our response to it,
Have steadily been stultified
By operating programmes we're barely aware of.

This is part of what it means to be human.

Conditions and Contexts are quality-states of being, perceiving, feeling and thinking
In which we hold, observe, and respond to the events of our lives.
The Conditions and Contexts that we live in
Colour the way we receive and respond to existence;
For example, when I am in a Context of "happiness",
I will see and act very differently from times when I am in a Condition of, say, "fearfulness".

You may have noticed that I have been using two words to describe the same thing here --
"Context" and "Condition'.
What is the difference between them?
For the purposes of this exploration,
A Condition is a state of existing that we don't think about --
We just adopted it as a default way of being
And it thinks us.
A Context is a way of being that we consciously choose,
Usually so that we can experience our life in a particular way.
Conditions and Contexts can be positive or negative, creative or destructive, expansive or limiting,
And they will both allow those and all other polarities to exist within and around their space.
For example -- "Happiness" as either Context or Condition,
Recognises that "Un-happiness" and "Happiness" go together --
They're two sides of the one coin;
[Happiness] as a context allows space for its opposites to co-exist.
When Happiness will not comfortably allow Unhappiness to be,
It has ceased to be a Context or Condition, and has become a Position
Which is something else entirely different.
Positions live trapped inside the box called Ego:
Conditions and Contexts  contain and cradle the box called Ego.

When we're not creating or choosing a Context for our selves and the group we're with,
We are at the mercy of our default Conditions.
Conditions more often tend to be negative, limiting and destructive.
Consciously created Contexts can be anything you want them to be;
It depends on what kind of experience you decide that you want.

When we baulk at a pattern of experiences we're having,
Our first reaction is usually to try and change the circumstances
That we think are "causing" the experience.
The mid-to-long-term success rate of that strategy has never been good,
And never will be.
Why?
Firstly because the jury is still out on whether circumstances are the cause or the effect of a Context or Condition;
And secondly -- and more importantly --
Because the Context or Condition we come from
Determines how we will experience the circumstances,
No matter what they are.
A person in a context of "happiness", and another in a condition of "unhappiness"
Will see the same circumstances differently -- always.
Ergo --
If you want to change your experience,
You have only to change your Context or Condition.
That is the best news you're going to get today
Because it means that, for you to get happy
The rest of the world and its dog doesn't have to get therapy!
Your experience is up to you. Period.

Contexts are not found,
They are created,
Deliberately and consciously.

Choose a Context. Any context (eg "satisfaction").
We are never going to get to [Satisfaction] (which is why we so often settle for Gratification).
We don't get to experience Satisfaction unless and until we create, and come from Satisfaction.
Dissatisfaction has not, and never will be, a good breeding ground for Satisfaction.

There is no way TO [Happiness/Satisfaction/Honestness....]
[Happiness etc.} IS the way.

Abraham Lincoln said --

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Thanks Abe. I couldn't have said it better.