Happy

HAPPINESS CAN BE CULTIVATED

“I know a lady who underwent an operation for the removal of a tumor,” said Dr. Marden, “Everything in her life dates from that time. She cannot converse on any subject but she drags in her 'operation.' It is her excuse for her explanation of all her short-comings in domestic affairs.
“How many people are reluctant to let their troubles go! They have lived with them so long that they have become sort of companions, and they seem to take a morbid pleasure in entertaining them, just as some patients like to dwell upon symptoms and aches and pains.
“Few people realize that happiness may be cultivated to any great extent. They seem to think the power to enjoy life is largely hereditary, that they cannot do very much to change their sour, unhappy disposition.
“One of the most difficult lessons of life is to learn that we are largely the product of our thought; that our environment, our education, our habitual thought have very much more to do with the output of our lives than heredity. St. Paul was really scientific when said to his disciples: 'Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.'
“The brain changes to meet the demand made upon it. It is modified by its condition of activity, the motives which actuate, mold, and shape the condition which the individual has to meet.
“There are plenty of people doing little things in the world who might become mental giants, if their dormant faculties were aroused, and enlarged by scientific brain culture.
“Make up your mind that you will be an optimist, that there is nothing pessimistic about you, that you will carry your own sun-
shine where ever you go.”

WE ALL HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TALENT OF HAPPINESS!

There is no question about it. The real question is, what do we do with this blessed talent of ours called Happiness?

As we discussed earlier, a talent is a gift that must be feed, and used, just like you do your mind and body if you expect it to be healthy. The idea is to use it enough to develop it into a skill and then apply that skill until it becomes an ability. (Focus)

A lot of companies hire people for their happy ability. I know of people who have been promoted because of it. I know waitresses who get the biggest tips because of it. You no doubt, like to do business with happy people rather than unhappy ones.

Opposite of the good folks who always express their happy attitude,
are the folks who act like they have been feeding their mind broken glass and have developed an attitude of a 'junk yard dog.' They seem to be mad at the world. That is because they have decided to leave their 'happy' talent undeveloped and it has become dormant. They now serve us as, 'good bad examples'.

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies: and the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand ; and in her left hand riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” -Proverbs 3: 13-18

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of happiness.”

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
TALENT, SKILL and ABILITY?

We all started out, by being equipped a load of talents.
This is true for all people, including those who were born blind as well as those with other kind of handicaps. The question is what do we do with all of our God given Talents?

TALENT means that you have a liking toward something.
SKILL means you have actually developed that Talent. .
ABILITY means you are actually applying that Skill.

Let's look at a familiar story about three men who were given talents by their lord. “One was given five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability.

“Then he that received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them another five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

“But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them.

“And so he that received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

“His lord said to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord.

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

“Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

“Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which has the ten talents.

“For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness . . .” -Matthews 25: 14-30

The message seems clear to me, that if you have a talent and don't use it, you will lose it. It is also evident, why the rich get richer. And why the poor get poorer, if they don't develop the talents God gave to them.