2. Question thoughts and find happiness - more basics

I've said our thoughts are the cause of our emotional pain. Throughout history, including today, there are a few wise people who have seen this. We call them sages, or awakened ones, or enlightened beings. Really, they're just people who have seen the reality of life, and take it as it is. Many of them have shared their insights.And what do they say about the reality of life? It's this simple: What happens, happens. It's simply a fact. For example: It's raining and we have a picnic planned. Those are pure facts. No problem so far. Just the facts, Ma'am! But now we come along and add a story. And that story nearly always comes with feelings, often negative. We started off with rain on a picnic day. No problem. Now we add the story, "What the heck is this damned rain about? The forecast was for sunshine. It's not supposed to rain." All of a sudden what have we got? A problem. We've added a judgment to the facts, and that colors everything. How do we feel when we think what is shouldn't be? Terrible. We hurt.Does it change the fact that it's raining? Obviously not. Does it change our level of happiness? Oh definitely. You might argue, "Yes, but it's raining and I'm not happy about it. You want me to just suck it up and pretend I'm happy when I'm not?" That might seem like the only way, but it isn't.Instead, we might just question that thought, "It shouldn't be raining." Is that true? The reality is pretty simple. It should be raining. How do you know? It is. Period. We're insane when we argue with that reality. Instead, however, if we just flow with "what is", what happens? A couple of things, actually. First, we're not spending energy on being upset with something that doesn't really give a rip whether we're upset or not. Second, we can simply see reality as it is. We stop arguing with it and ahhhh... peace. And third, we're left with energy we would have wasted being upset that we can now apply to finding a solution.We're not trying to change the rain. And we're also not trying to change our feelings through will power: "I'll just decide not to be upset," doesn't work, and we all know it. Instead, all we're doing is just seeing life the way it is. Our idea that it shouldn't be raining was an illusion. It was a lie. What's the truth? It's raining. When we simply see that truth, or see through the illusion, we also realize there's nothing to change. Because the illusion wasn't real in the first place what could there be to change?. It was all just smoke and mirrors.
So, let's apply this to dating. You have Tuesday afternoon plans with Janie. At the last minute one of her grandkids needs to be picked up from school. Janie gets the call to pick up happy little grandkid. And you get a call saying plans for the afternoon are off. You can be disappointed, frustrated, feel you're not important enough or a whole range of other emotions. Or, you can see the reality: Janie isn't available for the afternoon. That's a fact. Period. How do you know it's supposed to be this way? Simple. It is. On a sunny day, how do you know the sun is supposed to be shining? It is. How do we know gravity is supposed to pull everything to earth when we leave it in mid air? It does. Do we argue with that? They'd put you in the funny farm wouldn't they?
Seeing reality (without our added story of should and ought) always leaves us content and without a problem. When there's no judgment we're just left with "what is, as it is". Where was the problem, except in our thoughts? Any time you're feeling emotional hurt and suffering you can know it's because you're resisting something. You've decided something shouldn't be the way it is, and instead it should be your way. Well -- good luck! Have you ever noticed that the universe never asks for your opinion? It doesn't care what your input is. It rules... every single time. You can argue with it, and be crazy. Or you can see reality (what is) and be happy. Notice our happiness doesn't have a thing to do with what's happening out there? It's all about only what's happening in here. Think: "I don't like... I don't want... It shouldn't be this way" and you hurt. See: "What is, is" and there's ease and a quiet contentment. Weren't those sages wise?