I have been trying to figure out all week what to write this musing about... No......it's not that I have nothing in mind to talk about(that rarely happens with me)...it's that I have too much and it is all interrelated. I receive a lot of enewsletters from my favorite motivational guys and each one had such valuable material in it ....I was in musing overload. Then.........
The other day, a good friend of mine, who composes the most beautiful music, made 2 very very happy pieces of music with me in mind.....Clown Orchestra music....now, you just know, that has to be very happy music...and it was.....he gave me instructions to listen to the music in the morning with coffee and in the evening with coffee again...and to talk to my friends ....read good books and this would keep me happy:-) It got me to thinking how important it is that we understand that we are responsible for what makes us happy. We have only ourselves to blame if we are not. Those of you who have read some of my other musings know how I feel about removing ourselves from people who have less than desirable qualities and behaviors ...basically people who hurt us and cause stress....and letting bad and hurtful situations "go" and "moving on". This "happy" thing is a big subject though, so , I went to my newsletters and quotes that get posted daily to my facebook newsline to get some good info to pass along to you. I knew this musing had to be about being happy.
There is a process...a way of thinking...actually,...that creates the happy inside us. At first you would think that our lives have to be free of problems of any kind...health, money, job and love problems....but, all of us has seen people with the most challenging of problems have joy in their lives......you can feel it and see it on their faces...so, no matter our trials and tribulations...we can create a feeling of happy inside of us....we may not have control over the problems that life sends us but.....being happy is something we do have control over. I always go to the experts when I need clarity on an issue of any kind...so.....
I am going to do some quoting from an excellent newsletter I received from Brian Tracy...one of my most favorite motivational guys.....this is a direct quote from his information....
"Sometimes people feel that they are controlled by external circumstances. But the fact is that your life is largely determined by your own personal choices and decisions in every area. You are where you are and what you are because of yourself. you have gotten yourself to where you are as the result of the choices and decisions that you have made in the past.
One of the most important discoveries in the 20th century thought has been the central role of the actions that you take. An action is defined as something with a consequence. Using this definition, even an inaction can be considered to be an action, because inaction, or a failure to act on your part, has a consequence that can dramatically impact your life."
I could never write about this subject any better than that. Based on my life's experience and my personal philosophy as to what works for me.....I totally agree with Mr. Tracy's words. I also agree with what follows ...his words on values and how important they are on how good a person feels....another direct quote from Mr. Tracy...
"The most important actions that you take in determining the quality of your life revolve around the virtues and values that you decide to embrace and live by.... They are as important to your life as breathing in and breathing out. The fact is that everything that you do is largely determined by what you feel to be good and right and true about life and people-your values!
When you are living consistent with your values, you feel good about yourself. When you are living inconsistent with your values, you feel badly about yourself."
Most of my musings are based on the effects of dealing with people who are unhappy with themselves for various reasons and many times it has to do with the quality of values they have. Also, many people , I have found(mostly too late) blame others or situations for their unhappiness.....and continue in a downward spiral with negative thoughts thru out their life and will drag others along with them. It is hard for me spot unhappy people sometimes because they can act happy at first. But, eventually, the behaviors that reflect this inside unhappiness shows thru. Sometimes , I can "feel" this unhappy feeling in others but , sometimes not. I am not speaking about having problems or a "bad " day or any of the things that make us human. I am speaking of innate unhappiness at their core. It really is hard for me to tell sometimes, until I am on the receiving end of their unhappiness...usually, it starts with unkindness towards others.....it is hard to be kind to others if you do not feel good about yourself....sort of like...dishonest people being suspicious of others because they are dishonest. Unhappiness within self shows up with a "crabby" shortness with people, also...we have all run into these kinds of people...difficult to deal with....basically negative ....you just know there is little happy inside them. Unfortunately, it makes us feel bad also...puts a damper on things so to speak.
The one thing I have always consistently tried to do...and again, I mention this in several of my musings...is stay away from people who are unhappy and negative as soon as I realize the fact...and to be around people who are kind, thoughtful, and approach life with a happy feel good attitude. Truthfully, I work hard at being happy in my own life because I do know I am responsible for it.. Happy doesn't just happen...it is like a garden...to successfully grow things....like feelings of happiness....cultivation, thought and care has to be taken. So, I am responsible for it just like I am responsible for how well I play the cello ..or anything else I do.
I hope everyone reading or listening to this has a lot of happiness inside them and are surrounded with happy people in their lives...and if not, can give their situation some thought and then change it.
QUOTES:
"No one is in charge of your happiness......except you" - anonymous
"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav'n of hell and a hell of a heav'n."
-- John Milton, poet
"The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts"- Brian Tracy
"Be with those who bring out the best in you....not the stress in you" - Brian Tracy
"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav'n of hell and a hell of a heav'n."
-- John Milton, poet
"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts" - Marcus Aurelius
"Always make time for things that make you feel happy to be alive " - Brian Tracy
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