by Robert Lamber

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

The 'secret' to happiness is, there is no secret! The minute you use the word 'secret' in any given statement, you already assume it is elusive or exclusive. Poppycock! Finding a favorite food or that special dress that fits just right, that's what creates happiness and happiness is as plain as the nose on your face. It tickles your senses and adds a warm calming glow that tells you things are just right. However, people will lead you to believe that happiness is elusive. On any given day, walk into your favorite bookstore and skip (now there's a form of happiness) over to the self-help section and count the books that offer ways to find happiness. 256 in my store alone! I'll tell you who's happy... the book publishers, and that's just one way they have found happiness, through your wallet! Just my writing this article brings me happiness with the hopes that reading it does the same for you.

I am not a psychologist nor do I profess to have the definitive answer to creating happiness. Nevertheless, I do know that being human gives us more options on finding the ways to get up in the morning with a smile on our face. Let's start by considering the 7 deadly sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride). (No I'm not a preacher and this will not be a boring sermon, I promise!) I am too happy telling you how to be happy to preach today.

What makes these 'sins' interesting to look at, is that these traits are all characteristically human ones and they tells us how many hurdles we need to jump to avoid 'unhappiness'. So it would seem that happiness has its evil twin lurking just outside your door waiting for you to show weakness. Let me state the obvious: Happiness is within us as individuals and nothing I say or do here will necessarily set off your individual happiness meter. But it will give you ideas on how to avoid shelling out $125.00 an hour for therapy just to be told to visit your self-help section of your favorite bookstore! (Sound familiar?) Here's some advice from a very famous movie, Forrest Gump, 'Sh- Happens!' It sure does and we all have been hit square across the face with it!

Whatever happened that caused you to get in the way of bad karma, wipe it off, chalk it up to experience and move on! Sure, there are many situations that are hard to avoid, but don't linger on what you can't control. You can crawl up in a corner and blame the world for your problems, or get up and find your level of happiness that you are entitled to. What puts a smile on your face? Is it cooking, painting, writing (ah oh, competition! Stay out of my happy zone), long walks on the beach, dating 3 women or men or both (hey, it's your happiness that counts here, not mine!), flying, reading self-help books (that again?). You get the picture.

Don't dwell on others and their possessions or their states of happiness. Find your own. There will always be those that are wealthier, healthier, smarter, prettier, etc. What puts a smile and a jump in your step is all that matters. I for one have had my share of ups and downs while there are people I know that never wanted for anything. On the other end of that totem pole, there are those that do not have half of what I have. The world has no rules on the have and have-nots. But happiness is in your hands, your mind and your heart. The expression that, money can buy happiness' is not true! (Okay, I'm lying here! It can buy happiness but how much money do you need?) For me I have been trying to save up to give my love the 12 nights of Christmas and right now my happiness starts and stops at 'a Partridge in a Pear Tree'. What's your happiness level? Keep smiling it's the least you can do!

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