Where Happiness Lies

By thinking about how we answer to the world around us I just recalled that story of a guy who was complaining to his mentor... “I’m so poor and miserable! I have nothing but my family and the only fun ever I have is to feed the doves in my backyard...” So his mentor told him to try and bring the birds into the house for two weeks. And so he did. After the two weeks have passed, the man returned to his mentor and complained again: “I thought that by bringing the doves into the house, life would get better for it would bring fun to the whole family. But it actually got worse! The birds dropped everywhere in the house and my family didn’t stand it and left me! Now I am even more miserable, for I’m still poor and now I have no one left to care for me... What should I do to improve my life?” To this question, the mentor looked deeply into his friend’s eyes and said: “you should take the doves out of your house”.

At first this seems like a silly story but there is a strong lesson in it: things are never as bad as we think. We usually perceive the world around us much worse than it really is, for it can always get worse. It all depends on our attitude. Happiness can be all around you and you see only sadness and misery because you don’t have this or you don’t have that. So isn’t it about time for you to start being happy for what you do have?

Think! People always connect their happiness to something yet to come! Why don’t we just bond it to what we have already achieved? Just take the time to turn your head and look at where you come from. Have you family or friends around? People that care for you or that you care for? What are the little things that make you smile? Did you smile today? So that’s happiness – a simple smile! Happiness is not such a complicated thing that requires you to have this or that.

Smile, care for others, be nice and kind and it will all return to you in many different ways that will certainly make you smile. It’s all about your attitude. Have a positive attitude towards life and it will be easier to cope with. Think negative and even what was meant to go right will quickly go wrong... Don’t blame Murphy’s Laws if you are bringing the pigeon into your home. Blame it on your attitude! Then, look up, take a deep breath and change your attitude. It’s not easy, but you’ll see things start going right. It’s indeed much easier to be negative but it will drive your life onto the bumpy road. Looking at the brighter side of life is truly harder but, believe me, it will bring a smile to your lips. And sure enough, that is where happiness lies – in appreciating all the little joys of life.