We've thrown the word around a lot, haven’t we? Happy to see you! Happy to be here! And, of course, Happy Birthday. But how many of you are feeling happy right now?
Tommy Hilcken
I have been a longstanding member of the "Happy When..." club. It's really easy to join: Just start saying things like: “I’ll be happy when I get that new house,” “I’ll be happy when I get that new job,” or "When I leave this job."
Get the picture? Membership in this club has its underprivileges: It can be quite destructive and stressful, to say the least.
Zig Ziglar often says: “Happiness is not a where or a when, but a here and now.”
There was a time when I tried everything to be happy. I called myself Mr. Happy Go Lucky. I hit every possible Happy Hour, ate Happy Meals. It wasn’t long before my doctor told me I was headed for the Happy Hunting Ground.
Obviously, I was taking this happy thing a little too seriously.
Then it happened. I was driving one day when I tuned the car radio to a particular talk show host. His name was Dennis Prager.
Captivating. Great voice. Terrific message.
He was talking about his latest product: a course in happiness. Yes, YOU could be happy, too -- all $39.95.
I rushed home, grabbed my credit card, dialed in and ordered. The excitement was too much. But I'd waited all my life, so another week to 10 days couldn’t hurt.
Then on the eighth day it came -- my salvation. I listened intently to CD # 1 all the way through.
No happiness.
CD# 2: still nothing.
Then #3 and #4: same.
By the end of CD# 6, I finally found what I was looking for: In the box was a slip of paper that said "If you are not entirely HAPPY with this product, just return it for a full refund."
A valuable lesson.
“Most people are about as happy as they make up their mind to be,” Abraham Lincoln once said. Maybe most of us simply haven't made up our minds yet.
Happiness clearly is a result of choice — choosing how to effectively use the thoughts that flow in and out of your mind. The thoughts you allow into your mind influence your perception of the world you see around you.
If you perceive a sullen, hostile and unhappy world, your mind is full of sullen, hostile and unhappy thoughts.
Then again, if you change the way you look at things, you might just change your world!
For 20 years, Tommy Hilcken has motivated people, from blue-collar families to celebrities & pro athletes. As a Life Success Consultant and award-winning speaker, he helps others break through their fears and challenges, move away from what's holding them back, and go for what they really want. You can reach him at his Life Success Workshops: 973.809.2927. Or: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
