Recently I had occasion to answer a lengthy questionnaire on attitudes. Some of the questions asked if you ever felt hopeless (yes or no answers), if you feel everyone you know has got more out of life, if you feel positive about the future, etc. I always answer in the most positive way I can, because that's the way I feel. I asked the young woman who interviewed me, "Do some people answer in a negative, hopeless way?" She immediately replied, "Oh, yes."
Although I certainly have had my share of 'ups' and 'downs,' that's just part of life. I guess your attitude depends on your perception of what you have versus what you want; what you think you're entitled to and what you have, and also, probably, the state of your health. The happiest people manage to be fairly content with what they have instead of what they think they could or should have.
One thing about happiness and unhappiness: it always shows! You can't very well hide your state of being. It radiates to everyone you encounter. But - YOU create this happiness or unhappiness YOURSELF!! If you don't like the situation you're in, change it! We have the world by its tail, so to speak, whenever we mature enough to know that we cannot change anyone other than ourselves! That is very empowering! And, if we change ourselves, everyone around us WILL CHANGE in some manner.
We in America, in 2014, are so, so fortunate! To be sure, there are plenty of things that are upsetting in the world. But another mature thought is that it is unproductive to worry about things we cannot change. There are so very, very many folks suffering from high anxiety. Yesterday on TV I heard a psychologist say that out of the millions who have high anxiety, "only about 30% seek treatment. This is a very treatable condition." So, why suffer?
Really, right now we in America live much better than all the kings and queens of the world lived, for all times. Our medical care is the main reason: it may be expensive, but we won't die of simple infections. And we have painkillers!! Can you imagine getting a tooth pulled or skin cancer cut out or amputation with no painkilling medicine! What agony! No, we can't order dozens of servants around, send armies into battle or count our gold: so what! We can LIVE!
Have you ever had to worry about not having a place to stay for the night? Yes, we have homeless, but there are even shelters for them. Have you ever had to worry about where your next meal would come from? We never have to stand in a long line for a bowl of weak soup.
We can complain about the government, but at least it is the government we voted for! If we don't like it, we can VOTE to change it!
Yes, all in all, I feel quite prosperous. How about you? Can we enjoy our prosperity?
Lord, today we thank you for living in a free country, having a place to stay and food to eat. We thank you for being able to plan our lives, to change directions when we need to do so. God bless America!
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