Larisa says that Lincoln said:
I have found that most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
This is truesauce.
I have found that most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
This is truesauce.
I wonder where that expression comes from? There is this fabulous book that can tell you, only I forgot the name of it. Next time I come across it I think I'm going to have to buy it. Anyway. I was going to wait. A long time. Maybe forever. I don't like people coming up and hugging me, smiling and saying congratulations, or asking me questions. But Damm was talking to his recruiter about insurance. And he mentioned something that he should've told the recruiter was non-repeatable, because 5 minutes later the recruiter told Damm's mother (I have no earthly idea why he's talking to her-I keep forgetting to ask). After that I had to tell my mother. We haven't told any extended family members because there are quite a few here celebrating Damm's mother's graduation and that would be the worst form of torture I can imagine. So yeah, I'm knocked up again :P And this time I'm getting the t-shirt. "It" is due August 11. I have not been to a doc...
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People will look at a miserable rich person and say, "If I had as much money as he does I'd be so happy," and yet the rich man is not happy often because he has so much money he's worrying about it, about being robbed, etc. Meanwhile your neighbour seems extremely happy with his lot in life, even though you know he can barely pay his rent each month and seems unable to buy more than the basic necessities of life.
Why can someone with so little be so happy, while someone with so much can be so miserable? Choice. Simple choice. It's okay to be concerned when money is a little tight but it's you who makes the choice to let it negatively affect you, it's you who chooses to be miserable.
This is not the same as chronic depression of course (and I don't intend to belittle those who do suffer from it), but for the most part we choose to accept our fate and be happy with what we have, or we choose to worry constantly about everything and make ourselves miserable. We make that choice rather than letting the chips lie where they will. Que sera, sera.
Let me pose some questions. If a person is happy killing themselves and others for their faith, is it ok for them to be happy? Who taught them that it would bring happiness? What is real happiness? What are emotions? If they are chemical stimuli, then can one truly always force these? Some say there spark from bodily changes or body responses. If thats the case, how much does the environment truly effect our happiness? Can a person force happiness when in dire situations?
I just think it's interesting. The point is even though the statement is true for the most part, what does it mean to be happy? and is it always a good thing?