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| Photo by Sorin Gheorghita on Unsplash |
“Although there are no easy solutions to
avoiding…destructive pleasures, fortunately we have a place to begin: the
simple reminder that what we are seeking in life is happiness. As the Dalai
Lama points out, that is an unmistakable fact. If we approach our choices in
life keeping that in mind, it is easier to give up the things that are
ultimately harmful to us, even if those things bring us momentary pleasure. The
reason why it is usually so difficult to ‘Just say no!' is found in the word
‘no’; that approach is associated with a sense of rejecting something, of
giving something up, of denying ourselves.
“But there is a better approach: framing any decision
we face by asking ourselves, ‘Will it bring me happiness?’ That simple question
can be a powerful tool in helping us skillfully conduct all areas of our lives,
not just in the decision whether to indulge in drugs or that third piece of
banana cream pie. It puts a new slant on things. Approaching our daily decisions
and choices with this question in mind shifts the focus from what we are
denying ourselves to what we are seeking—ultimate happiness.”
— The Art of Happiness, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.
