Introduction: Is it really ok to be happy?

Introduction: Is it really ok

to be happy?

If this seems like a silly question, you’re ahead

of the game, because a lot of people think

happiness is a sign of foolishness, laziness, or

selfishness. Here are some misconceptions that

I’ve heard:

 Happiness is just plastering over reality with

smiley faces and deluding yourself into

believing everything is ok. You waste time

and energy telling yourself stupid, untrue

affirmations and believing in nonsense. I’ll

take truth over happiness, thank you.

 Happy people are gullible suckers who just

haven’t grown up yet.

Good people work hard—they don’t have

time to be happy.

 We’re not meant to be happy in this life.

The more we suffer and struggle here, the

more we’ll be rewarded in heaven.

In short, a lot of people believe that if you’re

happy, you’re doing it wrong. They’re afraid of

happiness because they think it means losing

touch with reality, or being foolish, lazy,

selfish, or bad. But that’s not how true

happiness is. It doesn’t come from pretending.

It doesn’t come from making a lot of money,

being powerful, owning a lot of things, or

sitting on the beach all day eating bonbons,

either. Real happiness is:

_Love

_Optimism

_Courage

_Freedom

_Proactivity

_Security

_Health

_Spirituality

_Altruism

_Perspective

_Humor

_Purpose1

These are true virtues. I don’t know any god or

man who looks down on these qualities, and

they are the keys to enjoying life. They can be

yours—that’s what this book is about.