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Monday, January 23, 2012

Smiles

"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world." Robert Louis Stevenson

This is the quote I've chosen to focus on in the year 2012.  The DUTY of being happy.  This is certainly a different way of thinking about happiness.  Being happy as a duty.  As a result of being happy we benefit the world.  This is a huge concept.  It certainly takes the focus off of me, doesn't it.  I always thought that being happier would benefit ME.  I would have a better life.  I would be a more positive person.  I would move through this life with a more pleasant countenance.  I never thought of it as a duty.  I never thought of my happiness being a benefit to the world.

When I first read this quote it gave me pause.  The idea of being happy to benefit others went against my idea of what happiness was.  The first thing I thought was there couldn't be any truth to this statement.  How could my happiness benefit anyone else?  I first thought of the converse of this statement.  Can my unhappiness harm the world?  The only thing that came to mind to disprove this theory was the old adage. "Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized the person being resented isn't the person you come into contact on a day to day basis.  In fact, you are most likely to avoid the person you have resentments against.  And they are likely to avoid you, as well.  The people exposed to my unpleasant attitude of unhappiness haven't done anything at all to deserve being in contact with it.

I thought about people I meet who seem happy.  People who smile more than they don't smile.  These people have the ability to draw a smile out of me.  It may only last a moment, but the smile comes to my face.  I've been practicing smiling this year.  I have a little smiley face stuck to my computer monitor.  I take a few minutes out of each day, look at the smiley face and smile.  I typically start feeling a happier feeling.  Even though I'm just smiling and I've NOTHING to smile about, I feel happy.  In fact, I often remember a joke or have a recollection of a pleasant experience while I'm smiling.  I've come to the conclusion that I can trick myself into thinking I'm happy, just by smiling. 

One more thing happens while practicing this endeavor.  I enjoy practicing this smiling exercise when someone comes into my office.  I try to notice if my smiling face causes the visitor to smile, as well.  It's especially fun to see someone who was previously not smiling develop a smile on their face.  Maybe this is considered the benefit?  Maybe by encouraging another human being to smile I am benefiting that person.

This is as far as I've gotten in the experience of my happiness benefiting the world.  I'll start in my little office in a small liberal arts college in the mid-Atlantic.  I'll start smiling at a lot of people I don't feel I have very much in common with.  I'll continue the practice of putting a smile on my face.  Even though this exercise doesn't come naturally to me, I believe it is worth the effort.

8 comments:

  1. I struggle with the same things.  I greatly want to be one of those happy go lucky people.  I don't know if that's how God made me however.  Maybe it's how we should all be.  Maybe not.  I did that Monvee spiritual growth thing and it said I am most like Joseph.  Certainly no Noah!  :)

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  2. I think it sounds GREAT to be alikened to Joseph.  I think he is the patriarch most like Jesus.  Smile with me Amber Pamper.  Let's see the positive impact we can make on this sad sad world.  :)

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  3. I know that when I feel happy I tend to do more things for other people. I tend to say "yes" to more things when people ask. It's like I want to share my happiness. I have found that when I'm upset or sad if I start saying "I'm so happy!" several times, I actually end up feeling happy. It sounds so silly that it makes me laugh. 

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  4. for me it is all about intentionality...if i set out the day to be positive. i will. if i set out to be negative i will and if i set out with no plan it is pot luck...

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  5. We all have the ability to make or break someone's day.  I choose to make their day always.  I think you are on the right path there with the smiling.

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  6. I think this is an incredibly cool effort.  I love that quote!

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  7. I love the idea of happiness as a duty. Yes the world is affected by me. However I also know I can't give something I don't have. So I have faith in His Word that talks about joy being a fruit of the Spirit. There is a difference between being happy and having joy. One is circumstantial. The other is a deep abiding knowing that all is well even when storms swirl about us and circumstances flitter like butterflies or come crashing in like stormy waves. This kind of joy is supernatural but ours when we walk in the Spirit. I am not talking about floating through life on a celestial cloud as if we don't live in this world. Duh. Jesus said in this world we would have tribulation but be of GOOD CHEER for I have overcome the world. He is where my source of joy is!

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  8. I read a story once about someone who was going to jump off a bridge.  The person wanted just one person to smile and if that happened, the person would not jump.  Something to think about. 

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