I have often thought about what it is that makes people
happy—what one has to do in order to achieve happiness.
1- First and foremost is good health. If you do not enjoy
good health, you can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct
something from your happiness.
2- Second, a healthy bank balance. It need not run into dollars,
but it should be enough to provide for comforts, and there should be something
to spare for recreation—eating out, going to the movies, travel and holidays in
the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be demoralising. Living on
credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one in one’s own eyes.
3- Third, your own home. Rented places can never give you
the comfort or security of a home that is yours for keeps. If it has garden
space, all the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and
blossom, and cultivate a sense of kinship with them.
4- Fourth, an understanding companion, be it your spouse or
a friend. If you have too many misunderstandings, it robs you of your peace of
mind. It is better to be divorced than to be quarrelling all the time.
5- Fifth, stop envying those who have done better than you
in life—risen higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be
corroding; avoid comparing yourself with others.
6- Sixth, do not allow people to descend on you for gossip.
By the time you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their
gossip-mongering.
7- Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that will fulfill
you—gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going
to clubs or parties to get free drinks, or to meet celebrities, is a criminal
waste of time. It’s important to concentrate on something that keeps you
occupied meaningfully.
8- Eighth, every morning and evening devote 15 minutes to
introspection. In the mornings, 10 minutes should be spent in keeping the mind
absolutely still, and five listing the things you have to do that day. In the
evenings, five minutes should be set aside to keep the mind still and 10 to go
over the tasks you had intended to do.
9- Ninth, don’t lose your temper. Try not to be short-tempered,
or vengeful. Even when a friend has been rude, just move on.
10- Above all, when the time comes to go, one should go like
a Person without any regret or grievance against anyone.
Awesome!
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