Don’t Worry, Be Happy – The Brida Journal
Category: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Olivier adds his thoughts to our occasional series. Olivier is retired.
Don’t worry, be happy! It is important in life to be happy and you have to try not to let yourself be depressed or discouraged by worries over which you have no control. And, you have to train yourself to always see the positive side.
By spending time worrying, things do not move forward, and you cannot think of beautiful things. Also, the idea that we are satisfied with what we have, and to have a positive approach in the face of adversity is important. This implies to marvel, to avoid comparing, to relativise the difficulty of seeing that the glass half full rather than half empty.
It is a marvellous way of thinking if you can get to live it. It requires the implementation of strategies to be happier: expressing your emotions, sharing, relativising.
With age, it is perhaps easier to put things into perspective.
Obviously, it is not always possible to be happy. Then, these words take over, “we live with” and living the moment remains difficult.
That’s life but try to stay happy anyway.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Part 2)
Worrying can be a motivation
I am worried about many things. The scope ranges from personal things to the state of our planet.
To be worried is actually not a bad thing. Maybe you want to change something. Worrying can be a motivation; however, there are things you cannot change, then worrying is not effective. But if you can change something, worrying is effective.
Let me take climate change as an example.
I am worried by the fact perhaps that there will be a point of no return in the development of our climate. Everything is ok at the moment, but if we do not change, then the planet will no longer be able to heal itself.
I changed a few things. I reduced the amount of waste I produce, eat very little meat, I don’t have a car and don’t plan to use a car. I reduced the chemicals used to clean the flat, recycled more and I buy second-hand clothes using a smartphone app.
Am I happier? Difficult, because I am still worried about climate change. But I try to do what I can. Politicians should be more aware. But you can vote according to your conscious. You can personally change your lifestyle.
Climate change is a difficult example because your personal influence is limited. It is a global problem.
You worry, you change, then you are happy. If you do not like change? You continue worrying and remain unhappy. To be happy, you need to change, so that you do not worry.
You have to change the right thing. You have to know what to change.
Why worry about something that I cannot influence?
Remember that Song? People share their thoughts about these words. Especially in a time of turmoil.
We mourn for the past and worry about the future.
We live in a complex world. Our days are very full, and we measure joy in productivity. We run from task A to task B. The more we do or have, the happier we are. Even if we have a house, over time we have to buy a castle to stay happier. More and more.
In our hectic routines we lose a lot of the instantaneous. We do too much at once, we are everywhere and nowhere. We mourn for the past and worry about the future. We believe that we have to do and possess a lot. Only then can we, perhaps, find happiness.
But we cannot find anything that already belongs to us. I believe we come into this world to lead a happy life.
Many of us categorise everything in “positive” or “negative”. If we do not have the “positive” then it is “negative”. “Negative” is bad. But why? I think that we should live in peace with both worlds. We care for our body but often neglect our thoughts and emotions.
I was surprised in Sri Lanka earlier this year, just before lockdown. Most of the population does not own much, but they are very friendly, happy and radiate positivity. They live and enjoy every moment along with all the simple things we here in Europe take for granted.
Even if we experience “negative” situations, we must remember that we already have the solution and if not, worries do not help. Even if it is very cloudy, the sun is still shining.