Monday, October 13, 2008

Happy or Unhappy?

by Donna L. Watkins

I've been enjoying a book by Zig Ziglar called, Better Than Good - Creating a Life You Can't Wait to Live.

Why is it that we drift from reading inspiring and motivational materials to just ordinary stuff? Have you noticed that when you get into one of these kinds of books or a tape series, that you get so charged up and you feel so much better. Why don't we just keep going from one book to another? Make our reading choices only those that will edify?

Zig says, "It's a mistaken notion to believe that happy people are those who experience just the opposite. Research shows that happy people and unhappy people tend to have very similar experiences in life. The difference is perspective: unhappy people spend more time thinking about life's unpleasant events; they become introspective and self-centered in their thinking, and thus in their living. Happy people, on the other hand, take life's events in stride. They have a positive worldview that allows room for disappointments and failures along the way."

I've noticed that those who expect the world to be negative aren't even happy when things go well and right. They'll use comments like, "sheer luck" or "no reason to get excited - something bad will be happening soon." Sad ... it's like they just don't quite know how to process good in their minds. They see the world as all bad and evil and wrong. There's no room for anything else.

For happy people, bad things are looked at as exceptions. They see life as an adventure full of possibilities and promise. Unhappy people see bad things as a way to prove their point of view. Life is disappointing with few reasons to be joyful.

Zig says, "Positive people don't react to life; they respond. Responding is positive; reacting is negative." As Christians we must focus on God's provision in Romans 8:28: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Love God and it will all work out for good.

Happy or Unhappy? It's really our choice!

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