Are You A Happy Person?

What's the greatest difference between happy people and unhappy people?

As I stood at the sink washing the dishes, I overheard a psychologist on TV answering that question. Through therapy with hundreds of patients, he had come to one conclusion. He said that happy people are those who choose and follow their own paths - especially regarding careers. Unhappy people are those who yielded to someone else thinking they knew what was best for them.

First of all, I'm surprised at his answer. Not that I disagree that it's essential to follow your own dreams and passions. I'm just blown away that this was a common factor in so many of his patients' happiness. Are there still that many people who deny themselves the power to choose their own lives? Especially in this "it's all about me" generation?

I'm no psychologist, but I would have answered the question differently. The few unhappy people I know don't lack a willingness to choose on their own. They lack resilience. At the slightest thing going wrong, or not going their way, they freak out and rage against the unfairness of it all. After all this time - and experience - they still haven't figured out that problems are an inherent part of life's gig.

Get a grip! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and find an alternative plan (which usually works out better anyway). In other words, be a Gumby. That way, whatever choice you make will ultimately make you happy.

There are, of course, many other things that set happy and unhappy people apart. What would you say they are?