HAPPINESS PERSPECTIVE

December 19, 2007
BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

I am writing these words while I am flying higher than a kite. There are two reasons for this. The first is that I am happy and the second is that I am flying at 32,000 feet in an airplane. When you are in a plane, everything looks small. This is because you have a larger view and a greater perspective of things. Your perspective has changed and things don't look as big once you have put some distance between them. This is also true of our problems when we use the practice of happiness and the discipline of perspective.

Just like looking out of an airplane at the ground below, happiness gives you the perspective to distance yourself from the problems you have at the moment. Happiness perspective gives you a chance to see your problems from a much higher vantage point. You will not be able to disassociate yourself from the problem unless you can distance yourself from the problem. That is why the Happiness Decision is so important. You are so close to the problem that you have become part of the problem.

One of the things we can do to be happy is not to take things personally. Step back from the problem and yourself and let the situation pass for a few moments without reacting to it. This will be easier for you with the discipline of perspective. When you take things personally, you are not allowing yourself the space to view the situation intelligently because you have filled it with your negative emotional reaction. Your emotions draw you in and you find yourself trapped in the problem. The whole premise of detachment is another example of perspective discipline. Bear in mind, that discipline takes practice. The more you practice the better will be your responses and the choices available for you to make.

The Happiness Decision is the ultimate in perception discipline because the decision creates the intention that happiness is more important to you than what is happening. Give your life a lift and let go of your preconceived perceptions, beliefs and reactions. When something occurs that has the power to disturb you, don't do anything for a few seconds. Give yourself a refreshing time out to allow yourself to see the situation more objectively with the advantage of perspective. This is another way to practice mindfulness and to allow your mind to have a larger perspective of things. This will clear your mind so you can identify and focus on solutions.

Immanuel Kant had written these wise words, "We see things not as they are, but as we are." If you want the view to change, than you must change your point of view. It's all in how you see things from your view. Our thinking is the most important part of our happiness perspective. Can you step back from your thinking long enough, for even a second or two, and look at life from a bigger and broader view? You can do this and benefit from it if you choose to. Step back from always being right and look at the broader view. This allows your mind to stop thinking, even for a moment, and use the Happiness Decision with the Happiness Prospective. Step back for a broader view without letting your negative thoughts cloud your vision?

If you step back in this way, you will be stepping up to a grander perspective that will give you more control than you have ever experienced. Get a more objective view you and you will have clear sailing though your life. Practice the Happiness Perspective and you will earn your wings.

It will be time for me to come down for a landing. The lift I received and the perspective I now have will carry me forward to being happy throughout my day. Practice the art of the Happiness Perspective and you will have the power you need to handle All the Small Stuff. One of the greatest happiness authors of our time, Richard Carlson Ph,D. who wrote the book Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, passed away last year at the young age of 45 years old and left us with a great deal of happiness wisdom in all the books he wrote. I recommend his books to you because they are now timeless happiness classics really worth reading. I have Dr. Carlson's book, You Can Be Happy No Matter What on my twenty best happiness books on my web site. I also recommend his book, Shortcut Through Therapy.

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club and can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The website is www.HappinessClub.com.