I love analyzing behaviors, observing how we function, and exploring how everything works together to drive development. That’s why I started thinking about a quote I shared a couple of weeks ago that talked about seeking happiness in others but finding it within oneself. The question is, can anything from outside plant something new inside of us? Or has everything already been within only waiting to be unleashed?

Of course, external factors can make us feel happy, loved, or appreciated. But can they put it into us? I like the point Keith made in his comment on said quote. He said that doing something good for others can make us feel happy. I completely agree. Outside circumstances can absolutely trigger something inside. But it inspired me to take a step deeper. I believe that it is only possible because the seed has already been there, waiting for the time to sprout. In my opinion, whatever gets triggered needs to pass a filter first, which means we need to allow something to go deeper to ignite something inside us. So, if I am doing something good, I have been open to feeling good in the first place. If I were not, I would not have thought of doing good. Someone angry and envious might not let anyone in a queue step in front of them. So, before he decides to let someone go first, he must have opened up to kindness before. Now, what about a coincidental case? Someone was “accidentally” kind because they had to, and then witnessed the joy or gratitude they caused. Still here, I am sure they can only feel happiness inside of them because the basis has been there before. Only when they were ready could that “accident” open the lid.

I believe we come here equipped with everything we need for this lifetime. Whether it be an attitude, a skill, or a talent, it is already part of us. Still, over our lifetime, we need to learn, practice, and develop to become better. However, whatever we develop has already been in us from the moment we started breathing. Sometimes we feel a calling in our early years or life needs to give us a cue to activate it, but the potential already lies inside us. I am quite sure that characteristics like kindness and compassion, but also feelings like happiness and joy, are part of everyone. Sometimes we need to rediscover the entrance, but it is there. It can be opened by a conscious decision, or we are reminded of it along our life’s journey.

That way, we are back at something I like to repeat: Change starts with ourselves. I was anxious and full of self-doubt. I thought self-esteem was not part of me and would never be. But when I had to be strong and stand up for myself (because no one else did), I built up my self-esteem. It has been there, but only covered by fear. I would not have been able to build it up if it had not been there. In the End, it is just a decision. If I want to be happy, I need to choose happiness – no one can do anything about it.
If I want peace, I need to practice peace, and no one can do anything about it.
If I want to publish a book, I simply need to do it, and no one can do anything about it.
If I want to be heard, I need to speak, and no one can do anything about it.
I bet we all have many more skills than we even know yet. But only when life pushes us might we discover them. So, what we discover in ourselves has already been there, at least so I think.

To close here with Wayne Dyer’s words: You can’t give away what you don’t have.
Whatever you give must have been part of you before, no matter how small or big.
Or you could not have given it.
At least, so I think.

In Love and Light

P.S. Love, as the summary of all positive energies, is in all of us because love is who we are. That’s why everyone can share love, even those who appear differently. They probably just haven’t found the entrance yet. Let’s hope they become ready soon so that life can trigger it in them. I don’t think so, I believe this wholeheartedly.