Living Happy: Even When Life Doesn’t Look Easy

Living Happy: Even When Life Doesn’t Look Easy

I’ve been working virtually in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda for the past nine months. The refugees there have been learning about the Three Principles—the profound teachings of Sydney Banks—through an initiative called 3P in Africa.

A few weeks ago, my friend Tayebwa Philips, who leads the 3P Nakivale Addiction and Mental Health Team, visited one of the villages in the camp called Kabazana. He spent time speaking with community members and gathering their personal stories.

Having been involved in these projects for some time now, I’ve seen firsthand the impact the Three Principles can have on the lives of refugees. And yet, every time I hear their stories, I’m moved all over again by what they say has changed for them.

There is something deeply hopeful in the fact that people who have lost so much to war and conflict—and who continue to face daily hardships like lack of food, shelter, and education—often say they are “living happy.”

In my eyes, they are undeniable proof that human beings can find peace within, even in the most painful of circumstances. They’ve become my teachers. And through these words, I hope their voices touch something deep within you, too.

These stories began with a question, asked by our colleague Byamukama Sylivia:

“What gives you the courage to keep going—to keep living, to wake up each morning and see that it’s a bright day, and that you deserve happiness?”

Florida spoke first. Clear, warm, and pointing to a power greater than herself, she said:

“I feel energetic and wake up hopeful because I know God is always with me.”

Then a young man in a cornflower blue shirt came forward:

“I’ve learned that healing from within – true healing of the heart – is so vital. I’ve also learned how to stay positive. I don’t complain about life anymore. Questions like “How will I get through tomorrow?”, “What will I eat?”, or “Where will I sleep?” don’t overwhelm me now. I understand my thoughts, and I don’t get lost in them. I feel happy.”

Nambajé Obed came forward next:

“I once had eight children. Four were taken from me. The sorrow made me sick in body and spirit. But through the 3P teachings, I began to heal. Now, I live with light in my heart again. I have forgiven those who caused me the greatest pain. And I have discovered within me the power to forgive whatever comes next.”

A woman with deep brown skin, dressed in a bright orange wrap and a bold yellow cloth tied around her head—looking like citrus fruit and sunshine—shared her story:

“The rebels stormed our house and killed my mother and father. In silence, I slipped away and found safety with our neighbors. When I left my home country and came to Nakivale, I carried nothing but hopelessness. The memories would rush through my mind, filling me with stress and inner pressure. But now, I know—something greater is with me. A higher power is guiding me.”

Joanne spoke next:

“I felt very sad and angry because of the difficult life I was living in the refugee camp. I even thought I might die. But the 3P teachings brought light into my life. I feel content, I live with hope in my heart, and I believe that tomorrow will be better.”

Rwasa Bernhardt, 64 years old, sat broad-shouldered and calm as he spoke:

“I came alone from the DR Congo, with no idea where my family members were—they were lost in the chaos. When I arrived in Nakivale, I had a constant headache from worrying about what might have happened to them. Now, I feel calm. I learned to let go of the past, to forgive. Even though life in the camp is still hard, I know I can decide how I feel and how I live.  I have come to love myself, love my neighbors, and love what we are doing—thanks to these teachings.”

Finally, a mother of eight stood and walked slowly to the front:

“There was a time when I lived without joy. I didn’t show love to my neighbors or those around me. But then something shifted—I saw that love is possible for every human being. I realized that happiness is free, something we carry inside. I learned that even in the middle of hardship, I can feel happiness within myself. These 3P teachings changed my life. Things in Nakivale are still difficult—we don’t have much food, our children miss out on school, and clean water is limited. But now, we lift each other up. We share what we have, with love and kindness.”

What Is It That Changes a Life?

When I listen to the voices coming from Nakivale—people who have lost family, homes, countries—I often ask myself:

What is it that actually changes a life?

Not surface-level change, but deep change. The kind that softens a heart hardened by grief. The kind that lets a father say, “I have forgiven the people who killed my four children,” and mean it.

It’s not circumstances.

It’s not time.

It’s not even resilience in the way we usually talk about it.

It’s insight. It’s seeing something true about how life works.

That’s what the Three Principles point to. And they’re not philosophies or something to practice—they’re descriptions of how human experience is created.

Always. In all of us. Whether we know it or not.

Let me show you what I mean.

The Principle of Thought: The Painter of Experience

Thought is like an invisible paint brush in your hand—constantly creating the way your world looks and feels.

Most of us walk around inside our painted world, reacting to the colors and shapes we see—anger, frustration, numbness, worry. We try to rearrange the picture. But we forget: we’re the ones holding the brush.

In Nakivale, many believed their sadness and stress came directly from the trauma or the camp—from the memories, the food lines, the tents, the noise. And who wouldn’t? It looked that way.

But then something shifted. They began to see, even for a moment, that they weren’t experiencing life itself—they were experiencing their own thoughts about life.

That was the real picture, and they were the ones painting it.

That’s when a bit of space opened up. A little peace came in—not because the camp changed, but because they realized they weren’t trapped inside the picture. They were the artists.

They saw they didn’t have to keep painting with fear or hopelessness.

They could let love guide the brush.

The Principle of Consciousness: The Light That Makes It All Appear

If Thought is the paintbrush, then Consciousness is the light that makes the painting visible. It’s the gift that lets you feel, sense, know, and be alive to every moment.

Consciousness brings your inner world to life with vivid clarity. It makes dreams feel real. It makes a memory hurt. It lets you cry from a song or swell with joy at a child’s laughter.

But it also means this: just because something feels real doesn’t mean it’s true.

Consciousness doesn’t judge. It simply shines. It will light up a nightmare just as easily as a sunrise.

When someone in the camp says, “I used to think all day about the brother I lost. Now I see I don’t have to follow every thought,” they’re describing a shift in consciousness. A moment when the light turned down on heartache, and up on something wiser.

The Principle of Mind: The Universal Intelligence Behind It All

Mind is the most mysterious of the three—but also the most hopeful.

You could say that Mind is the electricity behind the light—the universal intelligence that powers all life, including yours. It’s the quiet knowing that runs the seasons, grows the trees, heals your cuts, and brings you fresh thoughts in the middle of chaos.

Universal Intelligence is not something you control. It’s something you belong to.

The people of Nakivale didn’t “try” to forgive. They didn’t push themselves to feel hope. Those things came through them, like new green shoots breaking through dry ground.

That’s Mind. That’s the deeper wisdom always trying to move us toward healing, peace, and clarity—no matter where we are.

So What Does This Mean For You?

It means you are not broken.

It means your inner peace isn’t lost—it’s just been hidden by stressful thinking.

It means you’re part of something far deeper and kinder than the world often tells you.

Even in a refugee camp, people are remembering this.

So wherever you are—physically, emotionally, spiritually—just know this:

There is more available to you than you think.

Not through effort.

But through seeing. Seeing from within.

And if people who’ve lost everything can begin to feel whole again—so can you.

Not someday.

Maybe even right now.

Coming Next

In the next post, we’ll explore more about how this understanding works in real life—how people come to insight without trying, and why inner peace is closer than your next thought.

Until then, thank you for reading. Thank you for listening.

There’s something inside you worth trusting.

That’s what this is really about.

Much love,

Shailia