As you will discover from my book, "The Happiness Tree", "Self Mastery" is the journey you choose to embark upon that begins to reveal all of your hidden gifts, talents and opportunities.
Meaning that Self Mastery is really the engine of true and lasting happiness. If we cannot understand or direct our own consciousness and impulses the result will be anxiety; indecision; self-doubt; fear of the unknown and inconsistent behavior.
Mastery is not something that is achieved overnight, it is the result of many years of commitment to self-discovery and self improvement. What follows are some of the features and characteristics of "Masters" (individuals who have achieved Self Mastery). Read it over carefully to see if these elements are present in your life and if not, consider how you might begin to develop them.
Acceptance and Realism: Masters are people who have realistic perceptions and expectations of themselves, others and the world around them.
Solution Focused: Masters understand that when life presents a problem, a solution already exists, it just has to be revealed. They realize the best solution to a problem is to not create one in the first place. Yet when challenges do arise, they are viewed optimistically as an opportunity to apply all of one's intellectual tools and talents to creating solutions. And in so doing, one's skills and abilities evolve and grow.
Integrity: Based on the Latin adjective, Integer, meaning whole, or complete, it is assumed that one with integrity has developed a framework of values and beliefs and that he or she acts in accord with that framework. That framework often begins with the "Golden Rule": treat others as you would like to be treated. Integrity is the antithesis of hypocrisy. Integrity is one of the hallmarks of Self Mastery, as to achieve it, the Master is continually examining his or her mind for conflicting values. and if found, they are compelled to alter their beliefs and behaviors to maintain consistency. Masters are those upon whom others can place their trust, because it is understood that their core beliefs prohibit them from acting in a way that is dishonest or cruel. Furthermore, because Masters build their lives around an integrated framework, they increasingly detest association with others whom lack integrity. Therefore, Masters are much more likely to maintain a small network of trusted friends that hold similar values and thereby limit their exposure to relationships or situations that threaten to challenge their sense of Integrity.
Spontaneity: Masters are spontaneous in their internal thoughts and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations, they also tend to be open and unconventional. Masters rarely hold rigid views on religion politics science or human nature. They understand that remaining open to new ideas and avenues of perspective, helps them to expand their mind and continually refine their search for truth.
Autonomy and Solitude: Another characteristic of Masters is the need for independence and privacy. While they enjoy the company of others these individuals need time to focus on realizing their own individual potential. Masters are more likely to develop abilities in the arts, writing, science or history, either as a profession or hobby, as they value personal enrichment and expression.
Continued Freshness and Appreciation: Masters tend to view the world with a sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure. As their lives tend to be more well-organized and manageable, Masters have time and the intellectual capacity to enjoy simple pleasures and to find joy in the little miracles that others miss.
Peak Experiences: Masters often have what Abraham Maslow termed "Peak Experiences", or moments of intense joy, wonder, awe and ecstasy. As Masters' lives tend to be less complicated, they enjoy a relaxed relationship with Self, their environment as well as family, friends and associates. This allows them to surrender to the magic of spontaneous events and experience a sense of awareness of, or connection to a reality which includes and yet is greater than themselves. What many may define as Spirituality or "Being in the Zone.
There is a purpose waiting for you to inhabit and the way to find it is to focus on Self Mastery. Opportunities appear in your life, when you're ready to fulfill them. The way to do that is to seek your true potential by refining the aforementioned facets of a balanced and healthy interface with others and the world around you.
As you discover and align yourself more keenly with your inner talents, desires and passions, Happiness will result naturally. Sustainable Happiness cannot be turned on like a light switch, it must grow inside of you, arising from you working on and integrating the elements of wholeness, as described above.
If you want a sense of Purpose and a Sustainable Happiness, examine the degree to which your life follows this example. When you can honestly say you've achieved it. the world will be your oyster.
- S.E. Mathias
