“The thought manifests as the word. Word manifests as the deed. Deed develops into habit. And habit hardens into character.”   — Buddha

#5. Align your thoughts, words, and actions with your deepest convictions.

Mahatma Ghandi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

What is it that the rare, great ones — the — all have in common? When we consider someone like Gandhiji, it’s easy to see that he didn’t just think nonviolence was a good idea, and stop there. Gandhi didn’t just preach nonviolence and stop there, either. What caused people to called Mohandas K. Gandhi aka “mahatma” or great soul, was that his whole being was headed in a single direction, based on a single, great purpose of attaining freedom through peaceful means. His commitment to this goal was wholly present in him. That is why, when Gandhi was asked for a “message” for his followers, it made perfect sense that he responded, “My life is my message.”

Biographers, reporters, friends and even opponents of Gandhi all remarked on his rare good humor. Despite the many obstacles he faced during the decades that he struggled for his country’s freedom, Gandhi generated happiness in his thoughts, words, and actions. His happiness didn’t just satisfy Gandhi himself; it inspired an entire generation.

We revere Ghandi not for one part of his life’s work, but for the message made by the whole of his life: his beliefs and convictions about nonviolence (his thoughts), his guidance on nonviolence to others in public speeches (his words) and most of all his courage in responding peacefully when confronted with the violence of others (his actions). So many years after his death, Gandhi’s  life and message are still generating inspiration: when things look bleak and obstacles seem insurmountable, peacemakers and other activists still look to him as a compass, to find their own true North.

Happiness comes in many forms, but we are most happy when our words and actions are full of integrity and authenticity. When we know our own mind, speak our own mind, living and making daily choices in agreement with our deepest convictions (such as Gandhi’s “I am 100% committed to living nonviolently”) we are happy.

May all beings be happy and free! May our compassion for all beings, ourselves included, continue to increase.