Happy or Irresponsible?

Don't Worry, Be HAPPY!

These are words of advice from a song sung by Bobby McFerrin.

Do they encourage people to ignore problems and behave irresponsibly? Perhaps. But I think they express a profound philosophical truth. Worrying prevents you from being happy. Worry creates tension, and tension prevents happiness. You need some way to relax and take a vacation from stress and worry. Worrying is bad for you, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The song also states that when you are in trouble, worry will make it double, essentially making the problem worse. We know worry doesn't help anything, and is likely to make you sick!

In the Bible, Jesus says No amount of worry will add years to your life.

In The Lion King, this problem-free philosophy is promulgated by Timon and Pumba, in the song Hakuna Matada.

All these experts agree that worry cannot help you, and in fact can hurt your health. So, don't worry. Be happy.

Happiness Part One

Interestingly enough, what people think and say will make them happy, doesn't.



And Abraham Lincoln had it right when he said, "People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be."



I have read some books lately about Happiness. One was fiction, the other non-fiction.





The Happiness Code, by Amy Herrick--about a genetically modified baby, born with the "happiness" gene and some of his adventures while just a year old.




I can't remember the title about noticing the happy times and enjoying them and how to look at other events in a more positive way. (the next book I will read will be about improving the memory!)




And the best book about how to include more joy in your life, The Joy Diet by Martha Beck.