25 Aug Happiness and Selfishness
Is It Selfish to Be Happy?
From The American Happiness Association
When I share the great news with people that happiness is under their control and can be learned, several say, “But isn’t it selfish to want to be happy? Especially now, with all the suffering in the world?”
Actually, it’s just the opposite: it’s selfish not to be happy. Let’s think about this for just a minute.
When is the last time someone brightened your day with a smile? Was that person selfish to smile at you? Are all the strangers that perform acts of kindness for you selfish? No, just the opposite, I’d say. Being happy is actually the best thing you can do for the world. When you’re happy, others catch your emotions. Emotions are contagious, both happy and unhappy ones, so which ones would you rather spread around to improve the world?
Happy people make better decisions, have better relationships, make more money, are less sick, and contribute more to the world than unhappy people. Happy people are more creative and inventive than unhappy people.
So it’s not only not selfish to be happy, it’s much better for the world when you become responsible for, embrace, and increase your happiness.
If we all decided to be unhappy grouches or even just neutral, then there would be a hundredfold more suffering in the world than there is now.
Which world do you want to live in?