The Philosophy of Happiness

In a world where oil prices are rising, the job market is falling, nuclear war with someone seems imminent, and all the news is bad, it's easy to get depressed. However, as the eternal optimist, I've come up with a few things to keep in mind when life looks to be utterly hopeless. I can't promise that my ideas will create happiness. As with most of reality, there are no rules and no formulas to "get it right." But, if they can help someone be just a little bit happier with what they have, well then, I'll be happier, too.

First, and most simply- life is what you make of it. I know, I know. That sounds like such a cliché, right? But it's the truth. If you wake up in the morning and your first thought is something like "I wonder how life is going to screw me over today?" it stands a good chance that life will find a way to do just that. On the other hand, if you wake up and wonder what things you might accomplish, or who you might meet, the course of your day will probably be drastically different. Positive thinking. Give it a try sometime. You might be surprised.

Another important fact to keep in mind is that unfortunate things are going to happen to you. It doesn't matter who you are or what kind of life you live. That is just the way of things. Now, I'm not saying to do whatever you like regardless of consequence, I'm just trying to make people aware that you can eat right and exercise your entire life and still suffer a heart attack. Or you can be a practicing Christian and still lose a family member to a car accident. These things happen. I work at a hospital, in an ICU, and if there's one thing my job has taught me, it's that accidents and bad health don't discriminate. However, instead of dwelling on the questions of "why me?", or "what could I have done different?" just deal with it, accept it. Take the time to mourn, take the time to heal, and move on with your life. Dwelling and obsessing on the past has never changed anyone's future for the better.

To me, the most important thing to keep in mind when trying to be positive is the fact that no matter how bad things are, there's someone out there who probably has it worse. Again, I'm not recommending that anyone should take pleasure in the misery of others. Just be grateful for what you have, and sympathetic and understanding to those that aren't as lucky. I had a friend tell me once that there was nothing positive in his life. I asked him some questions. Are you starving to death? Are you living in a cardboard box, or in your car in parking lots? Are you struggling to find clothes that cover yourself? His answer to all these question was no, and I felt I had proved my point. Take a moment to appreciate what you have, even if it doesn't seem like much. It will seem like a fortune someday.

There is no secret to happiness, and no one can make you happy except yourself. Take some time out of each day to stop and think about the things you expect would make you happy, and then consider what's already there. You might be surprised at how close you already are to your goal.