Learning to be Happy.

Nothing is as constant as change. We can rely on things to improve, or get worse, to increase or diminish and, if left long enough without attention, gradually fall into chaos. There is no point lamenting the fact that things are not how they were because change is a natural and useful part of life.

Imagine if the sea were static. It would stagnate like the little green pools that have no inlet or outlet. Imagine if the sun never went down or the sky was always blue. How would the ground get moisture? How would we all get rest?

Our lives too need change. Every day brings new challenges and new opportunities. If we try and run from them they will still be there. So how can we cope, especially when change is unpleasant?

Learn to love learning. Take every opportunity to learn and find out something new every day. Learn from every change and every challenge and every hardship. Learn from things that seem to stay the same that you wish would change. Challenge yourself to find the learning in everything that happens and it will help you cope with difficulties and find more appreciation for the good.

Being interested in new things will keep you youthful and energised and make you more interesting to others. Keeping your brain active is also a proven technique to help fight memory loss as we age. Every change, good or bad is an opportunity for learning.

And if things don’t seem to be changing as you would like? Set about creating change. Take a new course, learn a new language or learn to play a musical instrument. Start a new hobby or learn a new skill. Take up chess, or croquet, or tap dancing. The world is a wonderful place and there is so much to learn. Make a list of all the things you would like to do and begin to work on it today.

Someone once said, “A mind stretched by an idea can never go back to its original dimensions”. Spend the rest of your life expanding and stretching your mind. It is a proven path to happiness.