CREDO: ‘True Happiness is Not to Look for It’

By Eva Gizowska

I believe that the world is a mirror. We are attracted to people who share the traits we like in ourselves and are repelled by people who have the traits that we deny in ourselves.

I believe in walking everywhere. I never take a taxi. I also never take a lift or escalator when I can walk instead.

I believe that you have to be intoxicated with love all the time. It is the only important experience of life. Love comes in all different flavours and it’s good to feel love on whatever level.

I believe that without fun, there is no spirit. If you’re not having fun, you’re not spiritual.

I believe that imagination is like a never-ending horizon. The more you use your imagination, the more you change your everyday reality. I read a lot of Harry Potter at the moment, which is good for this.

I believe that money is the way we give value to what we consider a valuable experience. I also agree with what Oscar Wilde said " that there is only one category of people who think more about money than the rich, and that’s the poor.

I believe that alcohol

is not for me. I do not want to take anything that dulls my awareness. But I also know that a glass or two of wine doesn’t hurt anyone and you can have a lot of fun with it.

I believe in unpredictability. I start every day by saying to myself: I hope this day is as unpredictable as possible. There is great creativity in unpredictability.

I believe in playing with children. One of the things I love best of all is taking my three-year-old granddaughter to see children’s shows. I find I enjoy them quite as much as she does.

I believe that death is the way the universe recreates itself. Everything has to die before it can renew or re-express itself. Photons die, molecules die and ultimately the physical body. It is the way your soul creates a new context and meaning. If we conquered physical death, the universe would be mummified. The only cells that don’t know how to die are cancer cells.

I believe that stress

is not so much to do with what’s going on all around you as how you actually deal with stress itself. That, in the end, is far more important. It’s possible to be calm and tranquil no matter where you are.

I believe that black clothes are most convenient. That’s why I wear black almost all of the time.

I believe that true happiness is not to look for happiness.

I believe that the key to staying young is to perceive ageing as something that makes you wiser. Eat nutritious food, enjoy the company of young people, develop the ability to let go, and avoid toxins " emotional toxins and toxic relationships as well as chemical ones.

I believe that my books are written by a universal consciousness that somebody calls God. The ideas incubate in my consciousness and then I write three or four books at once. God does the writing " I collect the royalties!

I believe that the best food in the world is Goa fish curry. This is my favourite dish and I eat it a lot.

The Chopra Center and Spa opened at the Dream Hotel, New York, last week. It incorporates Ayurveda " a 5,000-year old system of healing " into its suite of spa services, yoga and meditation classes.