Bliss is what you miss when you are busy looking for it. Bliss just happens. You cannot create it or discover it somewhere. This makes the idea of following your bliss seem futile.
It is not, really. Of course if you know there are things you’ve done before that brought you bliss, you can do more of that. It seems clear, though, that finding bliss (as though it is a thing) is a mission that is lost as soon as it begins. It feels a little like grasping at water or smoke.
I have two small children, and I really look to them for enlightenment. Babies are undifferentiated, meaning they see no difference between themselves and the world. This is the definition of enlightenment.
Babies and children explore the world, eager to soak up every experience available to them. My baby is delighted when I give her the freedom to crawl around and discover things that have become ordinary to me. She loves to put things in her mouth and look at them very closely to understand them further.
My older daughter lept off the couch this evening to dance to the intro song on one of her favorite shows. Even though the show doesn’t have dancing, she seemed compelled to express her joy with her whole body. We went for a walk with her in the stroller, and as we came to the end, she was begging to go again. What seemed old to us was in every moment new to her: the wind on her face, the passing houses, the fluttering butterflies, and even the scary dog behind the fence.
Children are so good at just being. When you do this, bliss is all around you. Your heart feels like it will burst out of your chest when you hear a song you like or you see the sunset. As adults we get so conditioned or distracted, we miss these things. In our effort to find the best things in life, we miss them.
I can see now that even though I have learned the rules of living in this world, I am still exploring like my children. I am blissful when I learn something new or feel passionate about some idea. I experience euphoria when I use my body in new ways. It is easy to feel the drudgery that comes from thinking you have life figured out, and that this is all there is. It makes you want to chase some imaginary bliss out there.
Each day is new and undiscovered. You will experience new things if you are open to it. This allows bliss to sneak up on you far more often. Find bliss by not looking for it.
