I watched A Prairie Home Companion last night. While bits were slow, there were several gems. They included: "Life is a struggle. If you ever feel happy, be patient. This will pass."
Although it made me laugh in the film, I feel sad thinking about all the people who take such a gloomy view in reality.
It's like the opposite of Will Smith's take. When he was interviewed by Jonathan Ross, Jonathan gently mocked him over his Oscar nomination (rather than win).
Will protested that all the nominees were winners. That's what they'd been told at the Oscar lunch.
Sure, he was being funny. But think about Will Smith's success. I think his habit of looking at life in this way - even when others half (or whole)-heartedly try to make him feel bad - has contributed to it hugely.
I believe that happiness is a practice. Saying it takes work makes it sound like a chore. But by practicing happiness, as you might yoga or meditation, you can retrain your brain to find the joy in life.
Sure, bad things will still happen, but, overall, you'll be better prepared for them than if you were to live everyday waiting for the worst case scenario.
Think of something that's happened today. How can you reframe it in a way that will not only help you feel better but make future success more likely?
As an example, I got a rejection from a potential editor today where she asked for other ideas. In my years as a freelance journalist, I've become so used to reframing rejection, I don't need to wallow at all. Instead, I'm focusing on pitching her something she'll want to commission next time (this week so the iron's still hot).
© Eve Menezes Cunningham / http://www.applecoaching.com/ 2008
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