A Bit More on Happiness

Has anyone ever told you it was wrong to feel proud of yourself or to be too happy? In light of all that we have learned about happiness in the past few days – its definitions and applications – let’s talk about the possibility of being too happy.

What is bad about feeling good? Nothing at all. But there are some people who will try to get you to believe that you shouldn’t be too happy. They will tell you things like, “Pride goes before a fall,” or “Who are you to feel so good when there is so much misery in the world,” or even, “If you show too much happiness, you are only tempting Fate to step in and slap you down.” They will say they are only telling you these things for your own good, and they will try to make you feel guilty if things go too well for you. (You may recognize this as the negative side of Level 2 – Competition.)

Now, they are not lying to you. These folks really believe that what they are telling you is the truth. But what you need to know that this is “their” truth, not “the” truth. They are only offering you their opinion on the matter. You need to decide if it is your truth. As it stands, you might even entertain the thought that it is a good idea to avoid people who try to rain on your parade.

You don’t have to live in a perfect world or be a perfect person to be happy. You know that. The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, and the reasons to be happy are all around you. If you take a moment to look for them, they will make themselves known. You now know what to look for, especially when it comes to deciding what level of happiness you are going after.

Once again, happiness is a choice you make, not something that happens to you. When you choose to be happy – especially the Contribution level of happiness – you become a light in the world and a source of comfort and inspiration.

What is so good about feeling bad? Not a single thing. It is an unproductive “ripple” in the pond that is your life, and those ripples touch all you know and love. Why not choose happiness for yourself, choose happiness for those around you, and why not start today?