| "Never trade a risk for a lie," is a sound investment | | | | of events are nothing but sophisticated lies aimed at |
| principle. Placing our hopes on uncertain possibilities is a | | | | manipulating the naive. |
| better approach than believing apparent truths that | | | | What really creates contrasting levels of happiness is |
| rest on false premises and unrealistic promises. | | | | how individuals interpret events according to their |
| If you look around, you will find no lack of recipes for | | | | convictions about the past, present, and future: |
| happiness. Believe this and avoid that. Don't go there | | | | 1.- ABOUT THE PAST: No matter how painful, past |
| and come here. Throw away the old batch and start | | | | events can often be reinterpreted as learning |
| from scratch. "Our solution is not hard," you will be told, | | | | experiences. When this approach is unfeasible, |
| "I just need your credit card." | | | | preceding mistakes or bad luck must be simply |
| Here is a list of methods that don't work, never have, | | | | accepted stoically. Each human life is unique and must |
| and never will: | | | | carry its own past, whether positive or negative. From |
| * Dubious or unethical practices. | | | | old days, draw lessons if you will, but above all, |
| * Abusing people in any way. | | | | develop your acceptance skills. |
| * Seeking short-term gains that wipe out future | | | | 2.- ABOUT THE PRESENT: Difficulties and, in |
| progress. | | | | particular, boring or unpleasant work are much better |
| * Complaining about deficiencies. | | | | accepted by individuals who link them to their long-term |
| * Trusting luck. | | | | personal objectives. Men and women of high ambitions |
| Even under the best circumstances, attaining peace of | | | | know that performing daily routines well is a requisite |
| mind and happiness requires substantial work. Without | | | | of progress. The contentment of those who look |
| the right principles, those endowed with prodigious gifts | | | | beyond the present remains incomprehensible to |
| by heredity will just bury themselves in sorrow through | | | | short-term mentalities. This is why the same work can |
| mistakes and inconsistencies. You can find evidence of | | | | be experienced, depending on individual goals, either as |
| this by opening any newspaper. | | | | dead-end or as a step forward. |
| What is the essence of happiness? How is it | | | | 3.- ABOUT THE FUTURE: Progress derived from |
| determined? How can we steer our life in its direction? | | | | focused routines leads to achievement. The path to |
| These questions can be answered only by pointing out | | | | success might be irregular, advancement slow, and |
| the main difference between human and animal | | | | results below expectations, but you can always find |
| psychology. | | | | another road that will take you father. Animals cannot |
| Animals' moods are indissolubly connected to their | | | | assess their actions by linking them to long-term |
| immediate perceptions. For humans, this link is | | | | objectives. Human happiness is, to a great extent, the |
| immeasurably more complex. Since ancient times, | | | | result of making such connection and anticipating those |
| philosophers have wondered why different individuals | | | | goals. |
| react to the same event with anger, fear, anxiety, or | | | | Routine, progress, and achievement constitute the |
| happiness. | | | | sequence of happiness. Viewing the unique thread that |
| Relativism does not explain anything and serves only | | | | links our past, present, and future is a fundamental gift |
| to obfuscate truth. "Anything can be good or bad," is | | | | of philosophy. Peace of mind and happiness start and |
| not a valid proposition, in particular when one faces | | | | end with personal responsibility. May all your present |
| catastrophe or personal tragedy. Arbitrary valuations | | | | routines fit well your chosen destination. |