It seems to me that the key to happiness in our lives lies in getting over ourselves. The happiest times of my life have been when I was more involved in something I was doing for others than in something I was doing for myself. For any perception that focuses only on our separateness will ultimately breed fear, and any perception that focuses on our oneness with others breeds peace. Many people struggle and fail to find peace with themselves because they don’t really realise who their ‘self’ is. That is why ego is so dangerous : it would have us believe that we are separate, when in fact we’re not. We can’t have inner peace unless we feel complete within ourselves, and we can’t feel complete outside our connection with other people.
You cannot find yourself only by looking to yourself, because in essence that is not where you are. The real you is an expanded self, literally one with the entire world. And so we find ourselves in unity with others. We cannot be happy unless we are wishing everyone the same.
Marianne Williamson
A Year of Miracles
Emerging From The Dark Night 