Ira Israel was asked how he learned everything he knows about happiness. This is his vulnerable and inspiring answer.
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My happiness came on the heels of a life-event that some would call catastrophic. Happiness arose from gaining a greater understanding of such unlikely and unpleasant processes as two years of reconstructive surgery, followed by twenty-five years of seeking, and finishing with heart-wrenching conversation with the guy in the back seat of the car who was plagued by the thought, “It could have been me that almost died that night.”
Happiness is ultimately about embracing every aspect of our lives. Until we do that we are creating our own suffering. But I think I say it more convincingly in this short video.
After watching, I’d love to hear your experiences about how unpleasant or painful events led towards greater happiness.
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Featured photo: Flickr/Drew and Merissa
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