The Key to Happiness Found! Misery.

The BBCNews.com reported that the secret to happiness is misery. The BBC news article focused on what it takes to have a happy marriage. However, important facts from the article can be applied to what it takes to have a happy life. BBC news said that the key to having a happy marriage is to accept that sometimes, if not often, a marriage will have its ups and downs. Experts say that often, miserable times simply cannot be avoided.

Who is to blame for the wrongful assumption that the key to happiness is never-ending peace? Therapists from California State University, Northridge, and Virginia Tech place the blame on our beloved fairytales and today's love stories. The stories and fairytales lead people to believe a myth. The myth is that it is actually possible to have a perfect relationship.

In the Central Chronicle, authors of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy Diane Gehart and Eric McCollum said, " it is a myth that, with enough effort we can achieve a state without suffering." Dictionary.com defines suffering as the act of tolerating or enduring "evil, injury, pain, or death." That certainly seems like a far cry from happiness, but the authors also stated that even the idea of mental heath is a perpetuation of a myth created by the healthcare field. The concept, "mental health" gives an implication that people can have a mental state that is void of all suffering.

When people believe the myth that they can live without any painful experiences in marriage and in life, they often falsely believe that are a personal failure when things that cause them pain happen. Theage.com reports that in the US there is an overused value of a "can -do" spirit and an idea that we must always conquer adversities. These kinds of attitudes strengthen a feeling of failure when a kind of never-ending nirvana is not achieved. Therapists believe that if people would accept that some pain and suffering is inevitable and learn better ways to cope with such pain, people would become more satisfied with their lives and relationships. The therapists suggest mediation, which could be in the form of prayer. This form of "therapy might lead people to a deeper sense of control over the circumstances in their lives. Praying or meditating would keep one in a state of peace, at least until their marriage partner comes along or they get up from their prayer like position...
"Misery: The Secret to Happiness" BBC News url ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6711071.stm)