 The Touchstone for Success  |
Throughout history people from all disciplines have had tools for testing the purity of their craft, just like we can test to find out whether gold is 24 carats or not. In the 30 years of listening to the lectures from the Siri Singh Sahib (Yogi Bhajan), I realized that “hearing” alone didn’t necessarily create its assimilation or its expression into my own personal life. So today I am going to revisit Yogiji’s Formula for Happiness, which has helped me to create success in all realms in my life.
It seems that as humans we seek to become larger than we were yesterday. This process includes change as a prerequisite. When we have successfully managed the downside of change, we congratulate ourselves by using the yardstick term called “success.” As Yogis we practice meditation and yoga to eliminate subconscious blocks (i.e. downsides of change). Depending upon the goal, the downside of change can sometimes be monumental. The piece of the equation that is missing for most people is a clear vision of the new state that will be replacing the old one. The Formula for Happiness can give very clear guidance in this process if we use and understand the formula as a touchstone. The seven steps are
Commitment.
Commitment will give you character.
Character will give you dignity.
Dignity will give you divinity.
Divinity will give you grace.
Grace will give you the power to sacrifice.
Power to sacrifice will give you achievement, and then you’ll be happy.
Commitment is the starting point, the first basic step of experiencing happiness as a way of life. Commitment is setting our intention, our conscious direction. Next, commitment in action builds character. From character one acquires dignity around any subject. Dignity leads to trusting the divine (purity). Divinity then helps one create grace around one’s endeavor. Grace then gives one the power to sacrifice (the old pattern). We feel happy because we are clearly our newer bigger, expansive, elevated and vibrant selves.
This formula can be applied to every internal and external endeavor in life. It has stood the test of time to achieve success in any arena, and it can even be used to help anyone in the area of finances.
Let’s take, for instance, the commitment to make more money for one’s self and family. This is how it happened in my life: I began practicing a meditation for prosperity. My character changed; then my sense of self-worth, self-value increased. Over time, I began to charge more appropriately for my services. I began to dress better, speak more clearly. I presented my dignity to clients, and they bought my services more frequently. I began to trust my intuitive self, and my divinity became my trusted guide. Eventually, I grew to know the ups and downs of my business better and began to be less reactive and more responsive (acting with a grace) to its up and down curve. Through that grace and ease, I am now able to sacrifice (act fearlessly) to drop the old identity and leap into happiness, proclaiming the joy of successfully becoming bigger than yesterday.
I hope that this article inspires each and every student of Yogiji’s to visit and revisit the priceless touchstone so humbly given by the Master.