Happiness & Expectations

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Originally published November,  2019

I think it is a true thing that your happiness is primarily determined by one person, you.  At the end of it all, we determine how we perceive our world; we decide whether what just happened was good or bad, or how we will react to it.  It is our decision alone to determine whether or not we will face the day smiling, frowning, whether we’ll be present in the moment or float through the day worrying about other things.  However, not everyone, and to be honest I’m in this crowd, is to the point of self actualization in their life where the actions of other people don’t impact them.

We’ve talked before about taking responsibility, how to keep others from bringing you down.  The positive effects of smiling, focusing on the good things, and what being kind to others and forgiveness can do for us personally.  In all of our discussions we’ve talked about finding ways around others in order to retain or gain our own happiness.

Today I want to talk about a little different perspective on things; sure there will always be people we have to work around to be happy. However, sometimes we have to give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes we have to let people actually exceed our expectations. I know it’s not an easy thing, particularly when people have let you down many times before in your life. It is worth a try though because when it happens, when someone does something positive, something you were so sure they would not do, it’s a magnificent and wonderful feeling. Have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane