Happy

Once, while at a national conference, I introduced myself to as many people as possible. There was one woman who seemed to be busy each time I approached, but when an opening occurred, I took it. “You have such a peaceful and happy countenance. I want to meet you.” We exchanged names. Then she replied, “I was born happy.” I thought, then spoke, “I’m going to claim that for myself: “I was born happy.” Then I thought, “Maybe I could be born again happy?”

What we tell ourselves influences us, even when our thoughts are not true. Why not use that to our advantage?

I spoke with my friend Mary and told her she sounded different, lighter. “What’s up?” She told me she decided to be happy again. “I just forgot to be happy. I was irritated all the time. Then I thought, ‘Why was I irritated when the phone rang??Why wasn’t I enjoying my life?’” The question called her life back into relevance. Her thoughts were relevant to her experience and her experience was not what she wanted, but she had the power to change it.

The idea that we can change our minds and be happy is radical, but we certainly wouldn’t apply that ability to choose happiness in each situation. If our friend just lost a close relative and needed comforting, we wouldn’t sit around smiling like a ninny! No, we’d adjust our thoughts and provide a space for appropriate feelings.

Even though life is hard, and many things are tragic, life is not hard all the time. We get used to believing life is solely a school of hard knocks, and we even take pride in our hardships. Let’s take a moment to examine how much of our lives is built on borrowed societal irritation and angry righteousness, and re-decide. We can remember to be happy, rather than to drag our minds and hearts through the mud. Are you willing to join me and be born again happy? Now is the perfect time.