“He who is happiest is he who is content…” ~Benjamin Franklin
Happiness (Photo credit: baejaar)
A wise man said to his friend “Every time I see you, you are running around in a hurry. What are you running after?”
The man answered quickly “Success, money and the rewards of my hard work.”
The wise man said “That would make sense if you assumed all those things are ahead of you, but what if all those things were behind you, and the faster you run, the more difficult it is for those things to catch up to you?”
We all run after something. What are you running after? Are you running after money, a beautiful house, a person, a position in your company, a degree, a relationship, a better relationship with loved ones? There is nothing wrong with these things, but they won’t fully satisfy you unless you learn to be content.
A writer found an old list of goals he had set for himself. He had written many books and spoke regularly to large groups of people. He was surprised that he had accomplished every one of his goals so quickly. But as he continued to think about it, he was also surprised that he was not more content with what he had. Many people expect outward circumstances to fulfill their inner happiness. Instead of constantly running, take some time to rest and enjoy what you have.
Many very successful people who train others for success say that one of the best things you can do to achieve more success is to enjoy what you already have and be thankful. You reap what you sow, if you think about happy things you will sow more happy things. Being grateful is one way of keeping happy thoughts in your mind. Happy thoughts can’t be in your mind at the same time as sad thoughts. The best way to push sad, angry or any other undesirable thoughts out of your mind is to think about happy thoughts.
Sometimes I count my blessings in my mind, sometimes I write out a list of things I am grateful for, but either way, I always feel happier after I do it.
Enjoy where you are instead of where you want to be.
