Nine Promises That Bring Happiness 540.1
Abraham Lincoln said, "Generally, people are as happy as they are willing to be." [Corrected wording: See letters about our original misquote in readers' comments below.] His point: Happiness doesn’t depend on what we have or what happens to us; it depends on what we think about what we have and what happens in us.
The great teacher-coach John Wooden said, "We seek happiness in the wrong places and in the wrong form. The primary cause of unhappiness is simply wanting too much, overemphasizing the material things. Happiness begins where selfishness ends."
His strategy to find happiness is to make and keep nine promises:
1. Promise to talk about health, happiness, and prosperity as often as possible.
2. Promise to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special and that you value.
3. Promise to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in yourself and others.
4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
5. Promise to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
6. Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.
7. Promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.
8. Promise to give so much time improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
9. Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Comments
Re: Promise #3 following Lincoln's quote. I am sending you this thought because I KNOW you too expect only the best.
The grammar in the first line is incorrect and occurs often today: "....a person is as happy as they're willing...."
"A person" is singular and agrees with he/she, not "they're."
I'm hoping this fine point will be well-taken and not as criticism. We can teach correct grammar through our writing as well as through our speaking.
Posted by: Marion Rosecrance | November 9, 2007 12:21 PM
These are great promises and as you may not be aware are taken from the "Optimist Creed" of the international servvice organization The Optimist Club which you can seach on the web. This creed has served me well during my life and I subscribe to its beliefs and recommend it to all.
Posted by: mark sherwin | November 9, 2007 3:21 PM
Dear Mr. Josephson,
As a real estate agent, your "Nine Promises to Bring Happiness" should be posted in every real estate office as a reminder that the ups & downs of our business should not lead us down a path of pessimism, negativity or self-pity. Through my Faith, I have received the Grace to follow many of these guidelines and I feel a sense of peace and gratitude in my life. Enjoying the "Present Moment" is what life is all about.
We listen to your show daily...A great way to begin the day along with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
Your loyal listener,
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki Hall | November 10, 2007 9:29 AM
At first I hated the new format, as I would need to make an extra step reread your commentaries, then I realized all I had to do was put your website on "My Favorites". It is fun to read it in color, but more importantly I really wanted to copy the 9 promises as they are definitely something I need to work on. They are my new resolulations to becoming a better me. Thank you as always for nuturing that in us. :-)
Posted by: Christine Baker | November 10, 2007 10:05 AM
although, i'm not educated as some of you. Promise #3 is not about grammar is an advise which ever way you want to understand it and read it. as for me..being a simply and un-educated person, the thought of being happy is not in the grammar or how you speak it, it is how you can interpreted it in and for your life...this message is for simple and open minded people. not for those who want to be perfect, is for those who want to be the best they can and happy.((not leaving with critisizim)) excuse my spelling but you get it...after all you are perfect.
Posted by: claudio gomez | November 10, 2007 10:16 AM
Thank you to the readers and listeners who pointed out that the original source of the Nine Promises is the Optimists Creed. I have done a commentary correcting the attribution in the context of admitting errors:
http://www.charactercounts.org/michael/2007/11/admitting_youre_wrong_5405.html
Thanks to all for the constructive input.
Michael Josephson
In the same vein, I appreciate the comment about my poor grammar and misquote from Lincoln. His actual quote was grammatically correct: "People are generally as happy as they are willing to be."
Posted by: Michael Josephson | November 14, 2007 9:37 PM
Dear Mr. Josephson,
With much joy and gratitude I read your commentaries on contemporary subjects. You have a pleasant way to present the truths of the Bible.
May God bless your ministry.
Yours in HIM
George Kantartzis
Posted by: GEORGE KANTARTZIS | November 16, 2007 12:29 AM
Thanks for including this option which allows continuous scrolling of the latest posts!
Posted by: Larry Cook | November 16, 2007 5:06 AM
Keep up your excellent work!
Posted by: Jerry | November 16, 2007 8:45 AM
I truly appreciate very much your commentaries on Character Development. Keep up the good work. Many people like me are blessed by your work, which I believe glorify God.
Posted by: Carlos M. Castro | November 19, 2007 2:16 AM
Claudio Gomez said he isn't that educated. Education isn't JUST about schooling. I'm an editor and reading teacher. I am pretty clear on grammar. But I also know that American English is a changing language. "They" is becoming more accepted as a reference pronoun to "everyone" or "a person". Part of the reason is that it is cumbersome to say "A person is about as happy as he or she wants to be." What is grammatically correct now was NOT gramatically correct 50 or a hundred years ago. I agree with Mr. Gomez; what is most important about this newsletter is the content, not the grammar of a quote.
Posted by: Paula Lewis | November 19, 2007 1:58 PM