You don't need to wait for something to make you happy—like waiting for someone to love you, outperforming your competitors, buying a new house or car, or getting a raise. You can be happy right now without any reason.
Happiness is a choice. It’s about choosing to be open and free, rather than suffering in pain being closed off and restricted. The moment you make that choice, you can just be happy without any reason. This is instant and pure happiness. It is complete happiness because it's unconditional.
Does it seem hard? If it does, then ask yourself this question: does it take me a long time to get angry and upset? Probably not. Similarly, changing your energy and being happy doesn't take long at all. It's possible right now. This is a blessing given to you by your brain's plasticity, which carries the potential of your consciousness’ infinite spectrum. Your awareness can feel shame, fear, anxiety, and resentment in one instant and love, happiness, compassion, and peace in another.
As life naturally does, the new year will also bring us trials and challenges. Good things will happen, and difficult things will happen too. However, if our consciousness chooses "openness and brightness," we'll see hope and possibility in any situation.
Everyone can be a shining star when we choose the brightness within us. You can create complete happiness for yourself without looking for it in anything or anyone else. The world will clearly be a better place when it has more such people. May your light make your surroundings and the earth brighter and more beautiful.
Ilchi Lee