This morning a group of us had a discussion about happiness.  One person wasn’t happy and couldn’t figure out how to be happy or at least find some sliver of happiness.  He was doom and gloom personified!  Long face, grudging smile, sagging shoulders, you get the picture.

Various suggestions were offered to cheer him up — go out, meet someone, take a trip, indulge a personal desire, eat good food, etc.

Then someone offered a novel perspective. She said when you take the word, “blame” and remove the “me” then you’re left with “bla…bla…bla”

In other words the only one, at the end of the day, we can point at a finger at for our unhappiness is ourselves.  Unless there is some sort of organic, congenital or chemical reason at work, happy or sad is largely a function of attitude.

So how does one shift the attitude?  One way I have found is to shift the word “me” to “we.”  Go out and help someone else and see what happens.

I can’t guarantee much in life but I can guarantee one thing and it’s from personal experience. Money can’t buy it.  Status can’t acquire it. Fame or celebrity isn’t going to collect it.

Helping someone other than yourself is a sure-fire cure for the self-imposed blues.

Works every time.  Really. Truly.