In chapter 15 of The Untethered Soul, Michael talks about the key to staying happy is to keep the heart open. No matter what happens in your life, do not close your heart.
"When you start to close, just question if you're really willing to give up your happiness. You should examine what it is inside of you that believes there's some benefit to closing." (T.U.S., p. 144).
It is tempting to close when things don't go our way. But we need to realize that we are choosing to close.
I had a situation come up last weekend that has given me an opportunity to practice this teaching. My son Ryan and I along with some friends set out to climb Saddleback mountain. We'd been planning this for months, and were excited to be doing the hike. The weather started off wet and cold and we hoped that it would clear as the day moved on but about 4 miles into the hike I realized it was just getting worse and we needed to turn around and head back. Ryan and I were very disappointed. We will do it again, but I don't know when because it is a matter of waiting for the right weather conditions.
This minor example shows that life really isn't under our control. If we expect outer circumstances to dictate our happiness we are setting ourselves up for failure. Life is going to happen the way that life is going to happen. When things do not go as planned, there is no benefit to closing one's heart and blocking the energy from flowing.
Check out the first paragraph on page 144.
"Staying open is what the great saints and masters taught. They taught that God is joy, God is ecstasy, and God is love. If you remain open enough, waves of uplifting energy will fill your heart...If you learn to stay open at all times, great things will happen to you. You simply have to learn not to close." (T.U.S., p. 145).
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