How To Be Happy

[Maria]

I was sent this in an email today, and thought it was worth sharing. Enjoy!

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HOW TO BE HAPPY:

--1. Make up your mind to be happy.
Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

--2. Make the best of your circumstances.
No one has everything, and everyone has something
of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life.
The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.

--3. Don't take yourself too seriously.
Don't think that somehow you should be protected
from misfortune that befalls other people.

--4. You can't please everybody.
Don't let criticism worry you.

--5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards.
Be yourself.

--6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.

--7. Never borrow trouble.
Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.

--8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy,
enmity, grudges. Avoid negative people.

--9. Have many interests.
If you can't travel, read about new places.

--10. Don't hold postmortems.
Don't spend your time brooding over sorrows or
mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.

--11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

--12. Keep busy at something.
A busy person never has time to be unhappy.

 

[Erika]

I love it!!

Have you read The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama? I'm a pretty happy gal to begin with but I really liked the book.

 

[Maria]

No, I haven´t... Is it where this came from?

 

[Erika]

Nope, but it's a lot of the same idea.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing that. Whoever wrote it really knows what (s)he's talking about!

 

[tiggerlover1971]

that was great maria . I loved it thanks for sharing

 

[Goofette]

Thanks for posting this Maria. Sometimes it's just nice to be reminded.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Rarely have I seen so much of my personal philosophy summed up so well in one place. Thanks for sharing, Maria...I honestly beleive in those ideas, and think they make all the "complicated" things we encounter a heck of a lot simpler.

 

[Camelot]

Thanks for posting this, Maria.

Here's something else... I found this in my Dad's things after he passed away.... It was on an old and worn card, something my Dad must have carried in his wallet for a long time.

THE OPTIMIST CREED:

Promise Yourself:

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk Health, Happiness and Prosperity to every person you meet.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others, as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenence at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have not time to critize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permite the presence of trouble.......


...on the back of the card, Dad hand wrote:"Always be honest and kind and do the right thing. This will gratify some people and atonish all the rest"

I have this card framed and sitting on my desk.