Daily Mood Quote
Day 223 – December 15, 2011
“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.”
~Jim Carrey
Yet, the belief persists that “money makes you happy.” In reality it causes the greedy to become greedier, the selfish to become more selfish and those who want to want more. All based on a fundamental belief that happiness is externally generated and requires money, or “stuff,” or even the cooperation of other people. Grandma Anna Mary Robertson Moses, a renowned American folk artist said, “life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.” So, once you get above the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter (Maslow's hierarchy of needs) happiness is pretty much a self-generated thing. Happiness is a choice, I promise you, buying that “one more thing” will not guarantee happiness, because once that “need” is fulfilled, there is always another one to immediately take its place.
I have often told my children two things; Number One: money doesn't buy happiness, it provides you with peace of mind.” With it , you don't have to worry about paying your bills, losing the roof over your head, or putting food on the table, but it won't, can't, make you happy. That said, happiness comes from within, its a journey you choose to undertake. Number Two: “Do what you love and the money will come.” Yes, this usually requires an education and although many educated people right now are unemployed, I still believe ultimately the education will work out to their advantage. It will provide choices, opportunities and open paths that may have never been available had they not gained the education. The key is to make sure that you really do love the work, not the money. Big difference. All careers require work, dedication and continued effort to yield good results, both internally and externally. So many people, far too many, both young and old I have met are doing jobs they loath. They hate the people they work with, they despise their boss and feel trapped by life's circumstances, just because they feel the “need” to “keep up with the Jones'” and they have got to get the 60 inch surround sound, blu-ray disk, high definition home theater experience....in a one bedroom apartment the size of a shoe box. What's wrong with this picture? I do have a question here, after you purchase what you want, how long does that happiness last? Ten minutes, an hour, a day, a week, a month, what?...
One of the reason this particular observation came about today is because yesterday I overheard a mom say to her daughter, “If I buy this for you, will it make you happy?” The daughter emphatically replied, “Yes!” Really, until the next big thing, latest, greatest, must have comes out, right? I think its the wrong message being sent here. Happiness is a verb not a noun; it requires action and effort, not placation. That two minute excitement you feel when you buy something you want is not happiness, temporary gratification doesn't last. Have we become a nation of “stuff junkies” can't wait until our next shopping trip, the next big score? As I recently said, I have seen people garages jammed packed with stuff and yet to read their faces and body language, the misery radiates off them. It's unmistakeable and really quite sad.
In the movie Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey (Bruce) and Jennifer Aniston (Grace), Bruce is a news reporter with a beautiful girlfriend who adores him, a dog, and a nice apartment. He's successful by every measure of today's standards. But he wasn't satisfied or happy, because he wanted the anchor job and more, more and more and he blamed God for his unhappiness. So, “God” (portrayed by Morgan Freeman), granted Bruce ultimate power. With this “ultimate power” Bruce helped himself, “righting a few wrongs” as he put it, but he only helped himself and no one else, and you know what happened...well I recommend you see the movie, it is awesome. But until you do and to briefly sum it up, he wasn't happy at all. Not even ultimate power can “make someone happy” that's just the way it is.
I guess my point here today is, happiness has nothing to do with “stuff.” I believe that's important to remember in this holiday season and every day of the year. There really is only one path to happiness and it is internal. We have to make the choice to be a happy and work at it daily, it isn't a given, it doesn't come in a box or even in another person or deity. It's a habit that we cultivate and grow; by not only “doing what we love” but by doing life from love. Like Danny Kaye said, Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.”
How will you paint happiness today?
Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
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