Nine Secrets Happy People Know - Part 4

Continuing from Part 2 of Nine Secrets Happy People Know….

#6.  Happy people know they weren’t born that way!

Happy people have something in common besides smiling faces.  They face each moment knowing they have a choice - to look at the world through a smile or through a scowl.

It wasn’t, necessarily, one magical moment in their life where they heard music and saw the happy light.  It was a long series of experiences and lessons.  The teacher of (EVERY) year, Mrs. Life, taught them a very important lesson:  Her tests are much easier to pass if you have the right attitude.  A negative, defeatist attitude, not surprisingly, leads to Failure with a capital F.

“So,” you may ask, “what do these happy people do?  Just stop themselves periodically and pull up their attitude the way a rail thin basketball player stops periodically to pull up his shorts?”

Yes.  Exactly like that.

Granted sometimes our esteemed teacher is tough.  (No one ever said she was fair.)  But she doesn’t show favoritism.  We all pretty much get our fair share of lessons and tests.  Those who handle what’s thrown on their desk with a good attitude will find the day much shorter and their nights much sweeter.

#7.  Happy people know that slinging mud only gets you dirty . Think about the happiest people you know.  They don’t waste their precious time or energy gossiping about, belittling, or running down other people.  Happy people try to find the good in other people, not the bad.   Why anyone would want find or dwell on other people’s faults is beyond me - maybe to make themselves feel better or look superior?

Too much negativity is poisonous.  Happy people know this and avoid it like a rabid rat.  I’m not saying that happy people are walking/talking human versions of Snuggle Bear.  They SEE the bad in the world, they see other people’s shortcomings and faults - and they will most definitely do what they can to help where help is needed - but they don’t dwell on the ugliness of life or people when there’s so many better things to dwell on!

Also, if we’re being perfectly honest - A LOT of people who shine spotlights on other people’s mistakes or shortcomings aren’t doing so in an effort to help them.  They want to look good by comparison.  That’s all.  The truth of the matter is, the person who seems like the most arrogant, cocky, self-assured person in the world often has the most insecurities.  The “act” is their sheild.  I always wonder why they keep spending so much energy on holding the shield in place.  The time and energy would be much better spent addressing the insecurites.

I think that brings us to another secret that happy people know…

#8.  Happy people work on improving themselves.  They find joy and happiness in challenging themselves to improve, to grow, and to grab everything they can from life.  They realize that there’s nothing quite as satisfying as setting a marker (a.k.a. goal), reaching the marker, then setting another marker…even further in the distance.  It’s called growth and happy people eat it up!

#9.  Happy people expect “down time(s) but know to ride them out, waiting for the upswing.”  When you have  a website, you realize that there will be occasional unexpected, and unpreventable down times.  Sometimes your server will be “overloaded” or there might be an “error” or some other kicky little problem.  Happens. 

Same thing with life, right?  Things will come at you from out of nowhere and leave you dazed - wondering, “Where’d that come from and how’d it get my number?!”   Happy people don’t exactly smile as they take their vehicle to the mechanic for the third time in two months….they’d look irritatingly like the dude in those erectile dysfuntion commercials.  Wasn’t his name Bob?  Nah, they don’t go for that look.  Truth be known, they’ve been known to have their own moments - but that’s all they are moments.  They move on.  Yes, happily.

Unhappy people dwell on past “you done me wrong’s” and miseries.  It’s almost as though they like the feeling!

One of my daughters was listening to a song recently (by Ashlee Simpson).  I loved a part of they lyrics that said, “Get up.  Shake it off.”   Anyone who wants to be truly happy MUST realize that this is exactly what you have to do. 

If…

• Someone has hurt your feelings….
• Someone didn’t take your advice…
• Life dealt you a hateful blow…
• You messed up big time…
• You’re dealing with bitterness, anger, or pain..

….or anything that has left you feeling out of sorts, there’s only one way to chase the blues away and remember what happiness feels like:  Get up.  Shake it off.  Move on. 

Happy people know that life has the power to get you down - but it doesn’t have the power to keep you there.