Dr. Mark Van
Doren writes, “It takes courage to be happy.”
I do not
believe he is talking about the happiness felt sporadically during the day, I
believe it is the happiness of looking at life as it being a happy experience.
Everyone has
run into people who may have been handicapped by a disorder, or even an
accident of some sort, and yet they approach life with tremendous optimism .
This is an extreme example of what I am referring to but it is reflective of
what I mean.
I used to
work with a guy that was a real sad sack. I mean a REAL sad sack. When he
entered a room, you could FEEL the energy leave the room. When our boss would
buy lunch, he would complain there were olives on the pizza. (Instead of
thanking the boss and pull the olives off).
I was once
complimented by a manager of mine that I was a very energetic and optimistic
person. I know that for a period of time, I started to let that attitude fail.
Then I heard earl Nightingale talk about Dr. Mark Van Doren. Wow. Time to wake
up.
When I start
my day in a purposefully happy manner, the whole day usually goes well. When
something “bad” happens, I reflect on what happened, if there is anything I can
do to help fix it, or, sometimes it has no affect on me at all. It stays in my
brain a second or two and I move on.
Each morning
waiting for the snooze alarm to go off I spend that time reflecting on my life
in a spirit of gratitude. I look at all of the things in my life and how
grateful I am for them. By the time I get out of bed, I am looking at my life
is a spirit of happiness. Each evening, as I am relaxing in bed and before
falling asleep, I once again reflect on my life in a spirit of gratitude.
Some people
look at my life now and wonder how I can be happy. I am not saying you should
look at your life with giddiness, but with a lens of gratitude and happiness.
Trust me, once you start doing that, happiness will follow.
By the way,
do you know why you don’t run into very many people like that sad sack I told
you about? They stay home and wallow in their self pity. Don’t scorn them,
don’t think you are better than they are – help them if you can.
I hate to
put this bug in your ear, but, “Don’t worry. Be happy”
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