Life has everything you need or want in it. The problem is that we can only perceive that which our sense and brain filters will perceive. In other words all hat we wish for is already present, we simply need the correct perception of our internal and external reality and we will be able to access all that potential that exists.
For example there is so much potential inherent in our DNA yet we are using so little of it, one of the reasons being that it is not hard to survive at our current level of consciousness and so the rest of our potentials lie latent or dormant. Yet they exist. Also we have not really been trained in consciousness awakening so that we can actually tap into our latent potentials. Over the centuries much of the ancient wisdom of the Mystery Traditions or, if you prefer, mystical traditions of the planet have remained available to us. The wise people who have this wisdom available have either passed away or have retreated to the mountains to avoid the mundane expansion of so-called modern civilization.
It’s also possible that today’s leaders are more inclined to focus on educating the masses in mundane economically oriented training and study. We are educated to become consumers focused on making money, and the popular measures of a successful person are usually based on how much money that can accrue, rather than their happiness or other qualities. So if you are good at making money or at least earning a living for yourself and your family, then you are considered a success. And that is fine, up to a point. But that is only the basic foundation of our lives. Being able to generate an income will enable us to do the basics of survival, and perhaps enjoy some luxuries for the senses, but because such abilities are often drilled into us without the balancing education in consciousness, some people live their lives making money but losing their joy of living or the more subtle fulfilment that could be achieved in consciousness.
Unfortunately the modern worldly system is designed like this. It is based on materialistic consumerism as well as the economy. This is where we need to rediscover the balance, which is so important to a whole and healthy life. And ironically it is the education in consciousness, the ability to perceive abstract truth as well as have an appreciation for the non-material treasures of life that are the more important. A wise person will be happier, despite being poor than a rich person with no wisdom. A rich person may lose their riches and then be psychologically destroyed as well, or feel their lives are worthless. However, a poor person may be fulfilled and blissful just as they are, what to speak of the extra gains they may feel if some material gain also arises.
Thus there is a distinct difference between being rich and having wealth because wealth comes in other forms too, not merely cash or coin to spend on survival or pleasing the senses. Wealth is most seen in one’s knowledge. Having learning and knowledge may be even more valuable that talent, for example, what to speak of cash. With a wealth of learning about life and particularly ones mind and consciousness, one can feel happy, and even wealthy, despite having no money. As the old saying goes: “Wisdom is better than silver or gold”.
Having inborn talent is great but if you have no opportunity to use it or if you are not learned enough to utilize your inherent talent, then you may still be at a loss. In other words we need to constantly address our value systems that we use to gauge our lives and the world around us. With age comes experience and the ability to discern values. Naturally people are individuals and have a wide variety of values or things that they treasure, but we all have the need to survive, to produce creations, whether children or art, and to be happy. If any of these are lacking, we will feel a lack as those are the fundamental objects of wealth to us. Our state of consciousness, or degree of happiness, is something just a valuable as money or creative output. Happiness may be a by-product of our capacity to generate either, but it needn’t be. Happiness can be cultivated simply by realigning our internal perception of reality, regardless of external productivity or lack thereof.
So if you are trying to use making money or having a family or other forms of creative output as a means to make you happy, then you may well succeed but you may also fail. Ultimately we will benefit greatly if we have some form of learning going on, or constant self-improvement, whether internal or external, but more than that, we will benefit the most when we learn the art of harnessing our minds and state of perception to simply consciously direct it to the blessings we already have around us. Cultivating this attitude of gratitude will, in itself, already begin to activate an internal state of happiness. Yes, we can actually fake it until we make it, when it comes to our state of mind. After all, you are not just your mind, you have your state of mind, as well as your intelligence and you can direct them with your will or desire. You can tell your mind to be happy, for example. By mechanically using your smile muscles to change the facial impression, and by deliberately expressing open laughter, you will find that your mind complies. It’s as simple as that, so go for it. Be happy. The nature of the enlightened soul is a state of happiness. Anything else is a sign that we are out of shape. Well done, now you have it.