The most bankrupt person in the world is one who has lost joy. Every great and commanding movement in the history of the world incorporated enthusiasm. Nothing great was or will be achieved without it. So decide to become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
In a recent survey, two hundred national leaders were asked what makes a person successful. Eighty percent listed enthusiasm as the most important quality. Some pursue happiness—others create it. A person who is enthusiastic soon has enthusiastic followers. God’s joy and laughter are contagious.
Helen Keller was fond of saying, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.” “Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length” (Robert Frost). The unwise person seeks happiness in the future; the wise person grows it today. There is no sadder sight than a young Christian pessimist. Your world looks brighter from behind a smile. A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
How many people do you know who became successful doing something they hate? Author Harvey Mackay advises, “Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” Thomas Carlisle said, “Give me a man who sings at his work.” That’s the kind of person I want to hire and do business with!
Happiness is always an inside job. Our first choice should be to rejoice, knowing “that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans” (Rom. 8:28 TLB). “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 144:15).
Greet the unseen with cheer, not fear. “Laughter is a form of internal jogging. It moves your internal organs around. It enhances respiration. It is an igniter of great expectations” (Norman Cousins). God says in His Word, “If you don’t praise Me, the rocks will” (see Luke 19:40). Let’s not be replaced by a bunch of rocks!
For every minute you’re angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness. Two things contribute to happiness: what we can do without and what we can do with. People are about as happy as they’ve made up their minds to be. Happiness can never be found, because it was never lost.
One seldom meets a person who fails at doing what he or she likes to do. Don’t worry about the job you don’t like—someone else will soon have it. There is only one way to improve one’s work—love it. Be like the steam kettle! Though up to its neck in hot water, it continues to sing.
Smile, it adds to your face value.