I ran a contest in "Your Daily Dose of Happiness" to see how people define happiness. I was stunned to discover that I am the only person who defines happiness as an extra helping of cheesecake.
There were other shockers, too.
We know that money can't buy happiness ... except, of course, when we are flat broke. But I figured several people would define happiness, at least in part, as a bulging bank vault or "financial freedom". Just three people cited money in their definitions of happiness.
I also figured many people would cite health as part of their definition of happiness, as in "health, wealth, and happiness". But only four people mentioned health.
No health? No wealth? How do people define happiness?
The top rated mention goes to family. It seems that we might be flat broke and deathly ill, but a loving family will make us happy just the same.
Altruism and kindness are also key. It seems we smile by making others smile. Isn't that nice? No health and no wealth. Just smile.
Faith scores big, too. This works out very well, because we can ask our loving family to pray for a speedy recovery and a big win in El Gordo next month (assuming we recover first).
What does this mean? It means the spammers have it all wrong. They keep sending us useless emails about making money.
A typical spam message says, "Get the insider secrets to making millions on the Internet. I will give you these valuable secrets for peanuts just because I love your smile so much. You could make $5,433 in the next hour if you act now. Hurry. Don't wait. This is the real thing. You can trust me. All the others are just scammers."
Instead, spammers should be sending offers like, "Get the insider secret to building a loving family on the Internet. I will give you these valuable secrets for peanuts (and a big virtual hug) just because I love your smile so much. You could love your kids, spouses, uncles, parents, pets ? anybody! ? in the next hour if you act now. Hurry. Don't wait. This is the real thing. You can trust me. All the others are just family planners."
Spammers also waste emails on replacing body parts we never had and enhancing body parts we could never have, when what we really want is to know God better.
Here is a typical spammer email: "Hair loss? We just released the miracle cure. Grow your hair back thicker than a wooly mammoth preparing for the next ice age. This is worth a gazillion dollars, but you get it free for just pennies a day. Give me your credit card number before midnight tonight. I can't afford to offer this price for long. Beware phony products that drip funny colors in your face or make hair grow in all the wrong places. This is the real thing!"
Instead, spammers should be saying: "Faithless? Book your luncheon with the Pope, dinner with the Dalai Lama and a one-on-one chat with Moses. Reserve your seat free for just a handful of pennies. Give me your credit card number before midnight tonight. Act now. I can't afford to offer this price for long. Beware phony reservations for meetings with Michael Jackson and other fake gods. This is the real thing!"
By the way, Mother Nature was also a part of many definitions of happiness. So take your family down by the river for a prayer. And if you can lend a helping hand to a chipmunk or a duck, you'll be the perfect definition of happiness.
About The Author
The author is David Leonhardt, The Happy Guy. To receive his column weekly in your inbox, sign up at http://TheHappyGuy.com/positive-thinking-free-ezine.html . For how others define happiness: http://TheHappyGuy.com/define-happiness.html. Visit his home page at http://TheHappyGuy.com.
"When you live the life you were meant to live,... Read More
I have to be honest. I made the woman cashier... Read More
When we choose to move beyond the boundaries of the... Read More
Although many for us strive for happiness in our daily... Read More
People's lives today are jam-packed with great projects, ideas, to-do... Read More
I've got a bit of a problem with depression and... Read More
Like enough of the noise awready! Geesh, people?No, I'm not... Read More
Everyone wants to be happy. When you decide to be... Read More
According to researchers like Martin Seligman, Daniel Kahneman and Ed... Read More
Happiness comes to a person when it is caused by... Read More
During a FULFILLMENT seminar, at the University of Arizona for... Read More
"Happiness is the whole aim and end of human... Read More
This is one of my all time favourite problem solving... Read More
It seems like I set out in this life to... Read More
1. Do not act in order to receive a payoff.This... Read More
This month I'm going to talk about something I've never... Read More
Hugs have a long and honorable tradition, going back to... Read More
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE - how to build positive emotions for extraordinary... Read More
To maintain an unchangeable sweetness of disposition, to think only... Read More
When I left England in 2000 there did not seem... Read More
The title I chose for this article makes me smile.... Read More
Who is the happiest person in America? USA Today featured... Read More
I like to be around positive people, people who tend... Read More
Since wisdom is the art of coping with suffering, it... Read More
WE count the broken lyres that rest Where the sweet... Read More
Yes, it might feel great to win the lottery. Money,... Read More
Is there any necessary connection between our actions and the... Read More
It's a beautiful spring day in Beverly Hills, California. I'm... Read More
Well, doesn't that depend on what's causing you to be... Read More
"There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a... Read More
Looking for a way to stay positive in a negative... Read More
Taking a Magickal Bath doesn't have to be complicated. It... Read More
Boiled down to all of our essence, all we really... Read More
Does the expression "single and happy" sound like an oxymoron... Read More
"When we do something we love, again and again, our... Read More
My journey to becoming a therapist began with a desire... Read More
Sometimes we are so occupied with our daily routine in... Read More
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the... Read More
How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your HealthA merry... Read More
"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise... Read More
Sometimes change is pleasant. A child is born. A new... Read More
Many of us are probably so used to crisis in... Read More
When I tell you what I heard you'll be able... Read More
Getting out of our busy mode and into our heart... Read More
For the longest time I was convinced that I was... Read More
How can one be happy? Is it a tough question?... Read More
Everyone has issues with self esteem. It's no wonder then... Read More
Everyone wants to be happy. When you decide to be... Read More
Did you see any of the Live 8 performances in... Read More
Learning to love yourself isn't easy - especially if you... Read More
"Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but... Read More
I want to share with you today one of those... Read More
The freeway was relatively clear. It was early in the... Read More
The most important achievements you can ever have in this... Read More
We are in constant competitionIf we take evolution seriously, then... Read More
Many ask me this question: "Did moving to Mexico make... Read More
Gratefulness brings a great fullness to life. The choice to... Read More
Long-term success and happiness follows hand-in-hand with strength of character.As... Read More
Worthiness-word origin. Worth and worship both come from Old English... Read More
Each moment is filled with miracles - very special treasures... Read More
1. Mend a quarrel Seek out a forgotten friend and... Read More
Do you want to put a smile on someone's face?... Read More
Imagine that the Internal Revenue Service in your country claimed... Read More
Do you know what all happy and healthy marriages have... Read More
"You cannot capture happiness no matter how hard you may... Read More
I assume you want to be happier. Searching for greater... Read More
Finding Happiness |