Inherently Happy

Happy Authenticity means you follow your own path,  Not to impress others, or to keep them off your back, But because, maybe, you prefer cartooning to theoretical math, And you love what you have, rather than hating what you lack.   [full text below] Ep. 402 - Happy Authenticity We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! I used to try to conform to what other people thought I should be, I wore long pants and studied science despite preferring art and wearing shorts, I signed my name in cursive, and ate whatever was put in front of me, Which led to bitterness, nervousness and record-breaking nausea by all reports. I wanted people to like me and to want to be my friend, Like that time in my early youth when I was positively adored,  Before fears and growing pains marked a distinctly downward trend, And I was both mocked and shunned by an ever-growing horde. I become increasingly desperate to turn things back around, But no matter what I did, it seemed to be the exact wrong thing, No matter the tactic or effort, I seemed forever to be losing ground, Still, I hoped life was a pendulum and that I was eventually due an upswing. But there's something to be said for being friendless, for it means having no peers, Since without those, one has no peer pressure, which makes conforming a waste, And so I was free to work on myself and to, one by one, dismantle my own fears, Allowing me to pursue my own interests according to my own sense of good taste. I could freely admit that I didn't like certain foods, or long pants, or cursive letters, I allowed myself to be silly when I felt like it and quiet when I ran out of things to say, I pursued the arts, stopped going to church, and refused to wear pullover sweaters, I hung out in cemeteries contemplating the universe, and managed to find my own way. Because I gave myself the freedom to try new things to see what would stick, If I started a new hobby that didn't last, well, I could at least say I tried, And because I didn't need the approval of others, their demands had no kick, I could also be totally honest with myself because who would prefer that I lied? Happy Authenticity means you follow your own path,  Not to impress others, or to keep them off your back, But because, maybe, you prefer cartooning to theoretical math, And you love what you have, rather than hating what you lack. So, does this mean I sleep out in the wilds with neither job nor home? Not at all, I earn my rent doing office work and helping out where I can, But I also write, draw and dream, letting my heart soar and my soul roam, Making my life into something I like, as Happy now as it was when it all began. Haha  Yowza  

Everything fluctuates--Life itself is Change, It can affect plans both short-term and long-range. Will you fight the inevitable or will you be able to adapt? Tapping into hidden reserves of resilience previously untapped?   [full text below]   Ep. 401 - Happy Change We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Everything fluctuates--Life itself is Change, It can affect plans both short-term and long-range. Will you fight the inevitable or will you be able to adapt? Tapping into hidden reserves of resilience previously untapped? If you embrace the changes you find, are you being too passive? If you challenge them, do you risk your aggression getting too massive? Like with anything, it depends on what the change is. Is it the collapse of an empire, or a bubbly drink losing its fizz? Is something being created or destroyed? Is something improving or deteriorating? Does it make you enthusiastic or annoyed? Is it empowering or debilitating? Is something getting bigger or smaller? Are things moving faster or slower? And which do you prefer? Thicker, thinner, shorter, taller? And would you adjust the frequency if you could? Higher or lower? Change comes in many forms, Death for one can mean Life for another, The early bird catching the worm could be some baby bird's mother. Growth is Change, but Balance allows us to manage it, Reality is in a constant state of dynamic flux and sway, We do our best as time and resources permit, Hoping and struggling, trying to win the day. We must remember to temper our expectations for both good and bad,  Good things will change, and bad things will change, so don't get stuck,  But keep agile and adaptable even as you feel glad, mad or sad, So that you can move with the fluctuations and not be a sitting duck. Haha Yowza

If you can see yourself in people who may be dissimilar to you,  If you can find the humanity in those who can, at first, cause you dismay, Then you could get to know and even learn to appreciate their different worldview, Which may afford you the gift of Happy Grace, allowing you to see things in a new way. [full text below] Ep. 400 - Happy Grace We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! If you can see yourself in people who may be dissimilar to you,  If you can find the humanity in those who can, at first, cause you dismay, Then you could get to know and even learn to appreciate their different worldview, Which may afford you the gift of Happy Grace, allowing you to see things in a new way. We all like to consider our views to be right and everybody else's to be wrong, But sometimes those who disagree with us can still make valid points, Which we'd never discover if we're being too dismissive or headstrong, Complaining about how everything they do disturbs, distorts and disjoints. If you are religious, do you have any non-religious friends? If you are political, do you associate with those who are not? Or even with those who are religious and political but with seemingly different ends? Does it turn into a shouting match resulting in each side giving as good as they got? Inherently Happy means that Balance and Growth are built-in, standard features,  We all feel better when we stop fighting ourselves, and sustainably improve instead, And part of that relies on us expanding our horizons, a lesson taught by all the best teachers, Which means we must sometimes dive into opposing viewpoints becoming more well-read. Those who you claim to be the enemy, may think the very same of you, Their anger and fear of you exactly matching the energy you yourself are showing, Which you can't see because you're too busy condemning everything that they do, Which only proves their point, both of you unaware of your own lack of knowing. But if you can turn off the spotlights and sirens and learn to listen and connect,  Then you may find that they are willing to do the same for you to reach common ground, Because Happy Grace is for everyone willing to look beyond destructive cause and effect, And recognize within others the very same humanity we ourselves claim to have found. Haha Yowza

Strength is often measured in terms of brute force,  If someone can fight oppression, then they must be strong, of course! But sometimes power doesn't need to be expressed at arm's length, For the ability to endure without collapsing is true mental strength!   [full text below] Ep. 399 - Happy Resistance We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Strength is often measured in terms of brute force,  If someone can fight oppression, then they must be strong, of course! But sometimes power doesn't need to be expressed at arm's length, For the ability to endure without collapsing is true mental strength! I've often been told I'm too emotional by people who consider emotions to be weak, And those very same people then resort to destructive habits as a coping technique, When I, instead, recommend learning how to manage one's emotions and moods,  Through Happy thoughts, practices, and habits, like exercise, good sleep and healthy foods. When tragedy befalls me, I don't bottle it up, I express it, I let it out, I process, This is not being too emotional or weak, this is dealing with it so that I don't obsess, So that I don't let it fester and rot and turn me furious, manic, psychotic or numb,  I don't view my moods as things to be feared or avoided because, to me, well, that's dumb. That is misunderstanding the very nature of the human heart and mind, Which help us to self-regulate our lives in the face of society's daily grind, If you deny your own ability to deal with life, then you'll fight yourself every day, You'll fill yourself with shame and hatred, call yourself weak and throw your humanity away. I used to try to fight my emotions because that's what everyone told me I should do, Unless it was anger, that was okay, so I became a vandal and a pyromaniac--wouldn't you? I drank, I smoked, I did drugs, I was mean to myself and to others--what a tough guy, right? I got speeding tickets, I got into fights, I cut myself, and plotted revenge at all hours of the night. I got arrested, I lost friendships, I got in trouble at work, I called people names, I talked back and acted like a jerk, I'd show them, I vowed, I'd make them regret it one day--they'd all see! But this self-made poison wasn't hurting them, it was only killing me. The world didn't owe me anything, I finally realized, it was the other way around,  We're all just trying to get through life as best we can, from delivery bed to burial ground, And we should make use of all the resources we have and all the help we can get,  It's not weakness to train yourself to handle extreme emotions before you get too upset. Fighters don't wait until they find themselves attacked to learn what to do, They practice every day to get so good that it becomes second nature. and so can you, Because life is a challenge for everyone, we all face the same potential for bleakness,  And trying to just white-knuckle your way through isn't a strength, it's a weakness. Thanks to my regularly practicing dealing with my moods, and not shying away from them, I have greatly improved my ability to deal with what life throws my way, from joy to mayhem, From tragedy to triumph, because both extremes can lead to imbalance that can derail, So, if anything--I'm less emotional in the sense that instead of collapsing, I prevail. We all face challenges, no one gets away clean, And all we can do is our best, whatever that may mean, So, raise your own level of expertise to be able to stand strong,  And come what may, you'll withstand the onslaught and wind up where you belong. Haha Yowza

Persist through obstacles, setbacks and strife, Remain purposeful and consistent even in the face of worry and fear, Regardless of whether the task is a small one or lasts your entire life, Practice inner discipline and conscientiousness to grant you the strength to persevere. [full script below] Ep. 398 - Happy Diligence We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Happy Diligence means persisting through obstacles, setbacks and strife, Where you remain purposeful and consistent even in the face of worry and fear, Regardless of whether the task is a small one or lasts your entire life, Practicing inner discipline and conscientiousness grants you the strength to persevere. I may not be the smartest, or the fastest, but I am made of some pretty strong stuff, So, I know that I always can, at the very least, work super, extra hard, So that even if my skills are lacking, my tenacity might still be enough To allow me to out-maneuver, outlast, and go the extra yard. I give myself small deadlines to help keep my motivation alive,  I finish smaller projects, while I chip away at the bigger ones,  It grants me a sense of accomplishment, which, in turn, boosts my drive,  And ensures that I keep following the path of my dreams wheresoever it runs. I practice my moods, and I work through my pain, I teach myself to be resilient, I train my heart and my mind, But I also allow myself to be silly, to laugh, and to play in the rain, To smile at strangers, and write about what it means to be kind. For Happy Diligence isn't just about how to be tough, But also how to be tender when you need to be too, How to be Human, which is sometimes smooth, sometimes rough, Because Life is, ultimately, something each of us is just trying to make it through. Haha Yowza

Using the perspective of the Inherently Happy Way To act as a guidepost to plan out your day, Shows you the road we each need to drive And the tools to maintain it to make sure that you thrive. [entire script below]   Ep. 397 - Happy Harmony We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Using the perspective of the Inherently Happy Way To act as a guidepost to plan out your day, Shows you the road we each need to drive And the tools to maintain it to make sure that you thrive. ‘Cause when you're balanced, you have equilibrium,  When you grow, you improve, Balance reveals patterns--you can practically see ‘em, And Growth helps you change, adapt and move. When you're mindful, you're aware, When you're grateful, you hold good favor in high regard, Mindfulness helps keep you attuned to how, what, and where, And Gratitude grants you grace for when things get hard. When you're compassionate, you can feel what others are feeling,  When you're understanding, you have connection, Compassion shows you empathy, the first step towards healing, And Understanding teaches you forgiveness and reflection. Together they give you self-purpose, self-acceptance, and self-respect, And this Happy Harmony allows you to see that in others--I know ‘cause I checked. Haha Yowza    

Science shows us what Logic, Nature and the Body are and can do, Philosophy shows us why People, Life and the Self are worthwhile subjects to pursue, And Art shows us how Words, Images and Music express the experiences we all go through. [entire script below] Ep. 396 - Happy Smart We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Let me tell you a little about the nine kinds of smart,  You can add them to a spreadsheet or graph them on a chart,  To help you recall the facts I'm trying to impart. Some people call them talents, others say they're learning styles,  But even if you call them traits that the heart and mind compiles, They often tend to show themselves in a variety of skill profiles. You can sort them somewhere under the Three Great Considerations, Ways of interacting with reality in all its fluctuations,  Those being Science, Philosophy, and Art and their various specifications. Science shows us what Logic, Nature and the Body are and can do, Philosophy shows us why People, Life and the Self are worthwhile subjects to pursue, And Art shows us how Words, Images and Music express the experiences we all go through. Logic as in patterns, Nature as in environment, and Body as in sports, People as in empathy, Life as in existence, and Self as in reflection when feeling out of sorts,  Words as in language, Images as in design, and Music as in rhythm that transports When we show an interest in any of these areas we learn how to connect,  We see the relationships between thoughts and feelings, between cause and effect, And we learn about truth, harmony, integrity and realize what it means to come correct. The Three Great Considerations of Science, Philosophy and Art,  Are ways to engage with the world through the mind and the heart, And all the methods of doing that are what teach us to become Happy Smart. Haha Yowza

Sudden attraction can prove a distraction, And get you more thorns than flowers, While a gradual reaction can gain you some traction, And let you develop your powers.   [entire script below] Ep. 395 - Gradually Happy We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Sometimes you can see without feeling, You'll notice a sunset, a rainbow, or a flower, But it doesn't make you jump up and hit the ceiling,  ‘Cause you're just trying to get home before rush hour. Some other time you'll catch a glimpse of a poster for a movie you've never seen, And without context it doesn't really register as something you'd even want to see, But then your friend tells you they think you'd find it really peachy keen, And so you watch it, you love it, and now that same poster is as lovely as can be. You can also be this way with human beings, At first, everyone may seem like extras in the movie that is your life, But then as you get to know them through multiple seeings, You may begin to feel something about them, could be joy, could be strife. You might meet an attractive person who is simply hateful,  Or a person you initially barely register, but who turns out to be a delight, And this can make you value deeper connections, and be grateful,  And maybe not judge so quickly before you know what's right. I myself can look at something beautiful and not immediately care,  While at the same time clinging to something tattered and torn, It's not to say I can't grow to love something pretty if I find more there,  Or that I've only ever liked ratty things since the day I was born. I just don't really do the “love at first sight” thing anymore, I don't get infatuated from a glance or a nice smile, I have been burned by that way too many times before, Where spending time with them made me feel like I was on trial. So, now I take my time to connect before I attempt any form of attraction, I can still appreciate sunsets, rainbows and flowers, I just don't let dreams of a pot of gold become a distraction From my journey to becoming Gradually Happy, and fully engaging with my Happy powers. Haha Yowza

If no matter how bad you want something you never get it, you'll hate the endless yearning,  But with a Happy Mindset, you'll realize that the opposite of Winning isn't Losing, it's Learning. [full script below] Ep. 394 - Happy Mindset We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! I've known smart, attractive, rich, and talented people who still hated their lives quite a lot, Because they were stuck in the past, or in a shame spiral, or hung up on guilt and regret, They could never be grateful, only ever seeing all the things they hadn't quite got, They never saw opportunities, only obstacles, for everything to them was a threat. I mean, I know, sometimes it feels like the world is doing everything it can to make life tough, No matter how bad you want something, you never get it--so, what's the point of yearning? Well, that all depends on your Mindset, really. A Mean one will make you Mean, sure enough, But a Happy Mindset knows that the opposite of Winning isn't Losing, it's Learning. Trying the same thing over and over only leads to progress if you learn along the way, And Progress is just another way of saying Winning by a matter of degrees, You may not win first place every time, but you can still gain strength and skill every day, And that's how you can keep your spirits up when everyone else has a feeling of unease. I got punched in the face once by a very angry man who I was only trying to assist, He couldn't see that, though, he could only perceive all the things he felt he was missing, So, ignoring all the good things around us, he just cursed, kicked the air and balled up his fist,  And then when I didn't back down, pretty soon it was the ground I was kissing. But did I cry or wonder why the world had been so cruel? Did I weep or wail? Not at all, I just got back up and watched him get hauled off by the cops. He sucker punched me, which is pretty dirty, but he went to jail, And I learned that not everyone wants my help and would just rather bust me in the chops. The outcome of any situation, therefore, should not be one's sole motivating factor,  Because then you'll miss the journey, the wisdom, the lesson and the hope,  You'll just condemn yourself to having meltdowns like a leaky nuclear reactor, Where even the slightest frustration makes you think you've lost and therefore can't cope. Now I get sad, sure, I get mad too, I'm a person, but I know those feelings are fleeting, Because I always aim to maintain my Happy Mindset even if it takes a few tries, Not everything works the first time you do it, but it'll never work if you keep retreating, So, just keep at it, keep trying for improvement because isn't that the real prize? Haha Yowza  

Our human lives contain both joy and bereavement, Through it all we have Art, a crowning achievement, Art is for communicating the Human Condition, Thereby elevating it, a most valuable mission. [full script below] Ep. 393 - Artfully Happy We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Our human lives contain both joy and bereavement, Through it all we have Art, a crowning achievement, Art is for communicating the Human Condition, Thereby elevating it, a most valuable mission. Art is a way of interacting with reality, one that asks “How?” Just like Science asks “What?” and Philosophy asks “Why?” Art is a way of accessing Happy in the here and now, Which you can then revisit or share with others by and by. Art, along with Science and Philosophy, is one of the Three Great Considerations of humankind, Because asking “How?” makes us think about quality and skill, About form and content, and depth of heart and mind, And helps us express our Happy creative Will. Art is a way of interacting with the world and the people in it, It can help us form connections and stimulate our souls, It can happen over the course of a lifetime or in less than a minute,  It can be about things experienced in passing or passionate life goals. It is craft, it is feeling, it is life, it is history, It helps us make some sense of the Great Mystery, It delves deep and shows us that we are not alone, Because being Artfully Happy goes straight to the bone. Haha Yowza

We seek to solve the mystery of our Life Sentence--is there a cause at the end of the line? Will we find paradise, doom or is it all just an endless merry-go-round operated by the Divine?   [entire script below] Ep. 392 - Divinely Happy We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Humans live with the knowledge of our own impending death, From even before we're born, the terminal countdown begins, As we only have a limited time before we'll draw our final breath, In a race we all must run, but one that nobody ever wins. And so we cling to beliefs that afford us some peace along the way, We try to catch a glimpse of the divine to get some clue as to what's out there, We meditate, vision quest, lucid dream, we hope, we wish, we pray, All to solve the mystery of our Life Sentence--are we doomed or does somebody actually care? If we ask for answers, will we get them? Or is it far beyond what's even possible to know? And if we feel changed by the pursuit, is that merely from our efforts or something more? We just want to discover the cause, so that when we seek a certain effect, it'll actually show, Then maybe we'll feel like we understand something, and get a hint at what's in store. When we go past this living organism phase--do we carry on, transform, or just end? I grew up down the street from a cemetery where several generations of my family are buried, I used to fear it after dark until I discovered that my bullies feared it more--'twas a godsend! Then I spent many nights among the dead trying to commune, but the results never varied, Answers came there none.  Ghostly friendships, not a one,  I tried as hard as any late night divinity seeker could--not one to be outdone, But my ancestors and their grave neighbors remained silent and decidedly un-fun. I was there on moonlit nights when the fallen snow made it bright in all directions, I was there on gloomy nights too, when I had to feel me way around, At the very least I found it peaceful there, even if I made no direct divine connections, It was still less hectic than my own world beyond that tranquil ground. Nowadays when I see people who claim to have a direct link to the divine, I wonder, What am I doing differently? I try to be helpful, I try to be patient, I try to be kind, I sometimes have to cut off contact with toxic people who try to pull me under, But still I offer words of encouragement through my work, a product of my heart and my mind. And this work isn't meant to replace faith, of course, it's more of a bridge from here to there. For those who have nothing, it can be a framework at the very least, something to cling to, And for those who already have a belief system, it can still act as mental health care. Humans are obsessed with the unknown, we're Divinely Happy in everything we do. I'm no different, I want to know what's out there just like everybody else does, And I'll keep looking for clues just like the Detective of Divinity I am and always will be, And in the meantime, I'll also try to focus on being Happy just because Being Happy is better than focusing on bitterness and hate, this I know, believe you me. Haha Yowza    

Providing encouragment and support to others feels Nice,  And so you provide empowerment not once but twice.   [entire script below] Ep. 391 - Happy Empowerment We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! There's two kinds of empowerment upon which I shall report, Those you give others, and those you give yourself, being the two I shall name, The kind you give others contains encouragement and support,  While the kind you give to yourself contains exactly the same. I am always trying to streamline complicated processes that frustrate and irk, I don't break the rules, I just try to find loopholes where people seldom look, And as a result I often come up with new ways of solving problems at work, And then I write down those protocols so I can train others with my little guidebook. But I often find that others would rather that I continue to do those tasks still, And they don't even bother reading my directions even when I add a cartoon, Turns out they don't want to be empowered to do some things and never will, So, I seek my own empowerment elsewhere to find an escape that can't come too soon. So, I write, and I draw--and I sing and dance too but that's just for fun, I do these works to empower myself, to encourage and someday support, hopefully, too, And I share them because if they can encourage this human I know I can't be the only one, And going by the encouraging feedback, that which empowers me also empowers you! Happy Empowerment is that supportive encouragement that helps me and you cope, “If this guy can do it, then I should be able to as well,” is what you may well say, I don't have my ideal career, freedoms or family life and yet I still allow myself to hope, And I share that hope with others through art and the Inherently Happy Way. And sharing can be its own form of empowerment--it feels Nice, So, I encourage you to utilize the same methods that I myself employ, Namely to be empowering not once but twice, First by giving encouragement and support to others and in so doing increasing your own joy. Haha Yowza  

Assumptions save time, but at what cost? Check them with reality or you might get lost. [entire episode script below]   Ep. 390 - Happy Assumptions We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! You ever assume things? ‘Course you do, we all do. We assume big things like that tomorrow will arrive as expected, And small things like a rubber ball will bounce back to you, And even medium things like mistakes will repeat if left uncorrected. I once assumed a driver who cut me off on the road had it in for me, So I raced up beside him and threw him a glare, Only to realize that he was in his own world on the phone and did not see, Didn't care, wasn't being mean because he was completely unaware. My assumption met reality and my assumption failed, I had built something up that existed entirely within my own mind, Oh, how spectacularly wrong I was, I wailed, How quickly I felt justified in becoming monumentally unkind! I thought it was my right, nay, my obligation to fix that guy's wagon,  When he was already having a hard time of it and so I immediately felt bad,  Was I the bully? Oh, no! That mustn't be! I didn't want to be a fire breathing dragon! Laying waste to the countryside because someone made me slightly mad. So, I slowed my roll,  calmed myself down,  regained control,  and unclenched my frown. I thought of all the things we assume that may not be helpful at all, Assuming all plants are safe to eat, for instance, is not the best way to go, But also assuming that some activities are no fun when they could be a ball, You have to try new things to know for sure, but you can be careful even so. I've assumed that bullies were all out to get me, but they were making assumptions too, They thought I was a threat to what they considered cool and so wanted to mock me, But if they got to know me, some of them actually quite liked me--a friendly breakthrough! Where they saw that reality wasn't quite as bad as they had assumed--and that's the key! Having assumptions is a handy shortcut for a lot of things--water is wet, fire is hot, But we still have to test those assumptions against reality to make sure we're staying on track, Otherwise we may discover truths that are exactly the opposite of what we thought, And instead of moving forward we find ourselves lost and having to go all the way back. Haha Yowza  

Facts or Values, which do you consider the more important of the two? Do you hold in higher regard objective truths, or subjective moral codes? Do you consider logic to be the only worthy standard for all you think, say and do? Or are ethical considerations more effective in the prevention of behavior that erodes?   [full episode script below] Ep. 389 - Happy Worth We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Facts or Values, which do you consider the more important of the two? Do you hold in higher regard objective truths, or subjective moral codes? Do you consider logic to be the only worthy standard for all you think, say and do? Or are ethical considerations more effective in the prevention of behavior that erodes? My dad was a very logical man. He did his crossword puzzles in ink and never got them wrong, But he was also a church-going man and felt that faith was needed to establish rules of conduct, He was also a very angry man whose own behavior was often as disruptive as the day is long,  Someone who used his faith to wash away his guilt so that he wouldn't self-destruct. But he never changed his attitude, he stayed Mean, and just prayed a little on the weekend, I never thought morality should be something you keep resetting week after week, It should be a guiding principle that stays with you and supports you like a very good friend,  Not something that rinses the crud off you just so you can wallow in it once more, so to speak. I think it's possible to consider both the head and the heart when you make a decision, It doesn't have to be either/or, you can take both evidence, and your beliefs into account, In fact, that might be the ideal scenario, as opposed to an angry or violent collision, Resulting in a host of problems not even the world's greatest negotiator could surmount. Your Happy Worth depends on the Balance and Growth you're able to achieve, Not the fights, not the destruction, not the strife, not the havoc you can wreak, But the gratitude you can maintain and the compassionate outlook in which you believe, For it is those Facts And Values that will help you find the peaceful passion that you seek. Haha Yowza

Happy Fairness means being impartial, respectful, true and just,  It means treating people with the humanity that they've earned, Throwing in some decency, tolerance and integrity is, for many, a must, As well as any civil and rational behaviors previously learned. Recomended Episode: Ep. 226 - Fair Happy   [full episode script below]   Ep. 388 - Happy Fairness We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Happy Fairness means being impartial, respectful, true and just,  It means treating people with the humanity that they've earned, Throwing in some decency, tolerance and integrity is, for many, a must, As well as any civil and rational behaviors previously learned. I have a very strong sense of fairness, due to the all unfairness that I've seen, And not just to me, but when other people are treated unfairly too, I know how awful it feels to suffer injustice, and I hate it when anyone's Mean,  But I especially hate it when friends betray friends, that's something you just don't do. I've had a few pals, a few cronies, a few chums, who absolutely stabbed me in the back, Without a second thought either, just took something they wanted and to heck with me, A potential romance, a job opportunity, a privilege I was due--just an absolute bushwhack, Almost with a maniacal glee to see me suffer thus proving they were never Family. It's heartbreaking--after I was so sure I could trust their loyalty, The one thing I could count on--I  thought I at least had that, Then realizing I never really knew them at all--seeing what villains they could be, And then I started worrying that every friendship would end in psychological combat. But there is still fairness to be found in the world, and that fairness can begin with you,  Don't let them corrupt you with their bitter selfishness, like someone corrupted them, This doesn't mean to just let people walk all over you, no, you deserve respect too, As long as you earn it, it's not an automatic thing, that's unfair, and that would be mayhem. But disrespect shouldn't be automatic either, so don't pick fights just because you expect fights,  Odd as it sounds, but bullies are people too--they want Balance and Growth and all that stuff, They attack others to avoid winding up in someone else's sights, But if you uphold Happy Fairness then you'll show others that enough's enough. In my younger school days I was bullied by groups of kids, but not if I could get them alone, Then they actually talked to me and were even Nice, though I knew it wouldn't last, They didn't want to get targeted for not going along, they couldn't handle being on their own, In college I even did Nice things for my bullies--you wouldn't believe the goodwill that amassed. Sure, I wished they would all get boils up their rears and worms in their ears,  But I never actually did anything to them, I just maintained my own sense of fair play,  So when others tried to target them, I stood up for them even against my peers, And converted many bullies into friends, staying true to myself and the Inherently Happy Way. Haha Yowza  

Trying new things can be scary at first,  You may feel uneasy and start thinking the worst,  But if you can keep on going for just a little bit longer, You may just find that your confidence gets a whole lot stronger. [entire episode script below] Ep. 387 - Happy Courage We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Trying new things can be scary at first,  You may feel uneasy and start thinking the worst,  But if you can keep on going for just a little bit longer, You may just find that your confidence gets a whole lot stronger. Because part of the fear comes from the unknown, And from the uncertainty that can become overblown, But as you get familiar with the situation at hand,  Your outlook improves as you begin to understand. You then start to notice things you didn't notice before,  Opportunities to advance and raise your overall score,  Expectations you can manage and allies you can make, Challenges you can handle and chances you can take. Happy Courage isn't a total lack of anxiety or worry or fear, It's, instead, your refusal to cower or shrink when those things may appear, You don't need to avoid nervousness in order to act,  Happy Courage means you keep going even if you feel like you're being attacked. Many's the time when I was an absolute bundle of nerves, But that often juiced up my flagging energy reserves, I've asked girls to dance, and spoken on stage, I've defended myself in a fight against someone in an absolute rage. You don't need to hide from the world just because it's a tad frightening, That's as silly as hiding underwater to avoid bolts of lightning, But instead you should learn to face up to challenges both old and new, Because Happy Courage is you being your most courageous you! Haha Yowza

If you get so mad that you want to explode,  Then you'll always find reasons to overload,  You'll keep chasing the high of that pressure release, Declaring war every time you really want peace.   [entire episode script below] Ep. 386 - Happy Still We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! If you get so mad that you want to explode,  Then you'll always find reasons to overload,  You'll keep chasing the high of that pressure release, Declaring war every time you really want peace. You'll create new problems, instead of achieving your goals, Increasing your emptiness with all those self-made holes, But if you stop trying to destroy, and try to connect, Then there'll be no need to fix, heal, save or resurrect. Now I know the attraction of a bout of righteous wrath,  But it can lead you headlong down a sick and woeful path, Where everything is loud and mean and you have to fight your way through, Because you're trapped in a battle, when, really, the enemy is you. And the time to stop the skirmish is not when your smack in the middle,  But before you even get started if you'd just prepare yourself a little, Because you shouldn't be so surprised if you tend to blow your top,  When it happens yet again after you hoped that it would stop. You can't just wing it, you actually have to prepare to keep your cool,  Plan ahead for any possible triggers, and practice not acting like a fool,  Allow yourself to take your time, don't let the process itself make you mad,  Or you've defeated the whole purpose, and let your goodwill go bad. But you have to realize for yourself that a short-lived burst of rage isn't worth your dreams, That the power you feel for only a moment isn't quite as triumphant as it seems,  Because it erodes your sense of balance, your sense of growth, your peace of mind, And that can make you bitter, cranky, argumentative, and extremely unkind. And, like I say, I know all about it, I've yelled and I've raged, I acted like a wild animal who deserved to be caged, I've thought to myself, “well, maybe this is just me,” But I'm here to tell you, it doesn't have to be!” You can choose your own behavior, your own thoughts, your own traits,  You don't need all that anger to be one of the greats, You can find power in the calmness, the control and the Will,  And see that through it all you can be Happy Still. Haha Yowza  

Happy Fortitude is the faith you have in your own inner strength,  It's the grit you got--to tell yourself to get up, and try once more, It's your resilience, knowing that you will go to any length To keep from quitting, dropping the ball, or running out the back door.

Happy Grace means that you reserve judgment when you encounter mistakes, And act with tolerance and patience allowing everyone to learn, and find their flow, It's not the same as encouraging yourself or others to act like a bunch of flakes, But about acceptance, and allowing everyone the space to give it another go. Ep. 156 - Happy Grace

In order to achieve Balanced Growth--and also to keep it going, You'll need three things to keep the old Mood Wisdom flowing, The Three Cs of Mood Expertise: Communication, Comprehension, and Control.  Being able to recognize, realize, and regulate emotions will help you feel whole.

Happy Leaders are C.H.A.R.M.E.D.  Where being informed is the same as forearmed.  Initials that describe the ideals,  And are easily recalled--which always appeals!

We all have mountains we must climb, And that comes in many forms, From the rough to the sublime, To find sunlight through the storms.

Being grateful is important, sure, I say it all the time, of course, But that doesn't mean to ever stop striving to express your vital life force!

Shame is painful humiliation or distress, The feeling that you're a complete and utter mess, But Happy Shame is the opposite of that, It's being immune to feeling like a doormat.

If you can keep mindful of one simple fact,  That you were born Happy, which you can't counteract-- Then patient compassion can have an impact,  Allowing you to stay grateful even while being attacked.

You want to find a place to be Happy Alone,  Where you're just Happy to be on your own,  Where you don't feel scared of the unknown,  And your mind isn't a mental combat zone.

Hard times there will always be, but knowing they can be reframed and countered with moods, The very same moods that grew up out of the Hard Times themselves, well, that's solid gold! So, take that anger and bitterness and aim it straight at your pain and all that includes, And say, "I don't care if you think you own me, Hard Times, you don't! And you'll do as you're told!"

Stress is like gripping the prickly husk of a chestnut with your bare skin, You know it hurts, but you don't want to risk losing your nut so you hold on, And then you try going about your day ignoring the massive pain you're in, Hoping it'll all be worth it and that the self-imposed curse will magically be gone.

While the seasons may bring some sadness and depression,  Along with work, crowds and weather making it tough to advance, One way of dealing with it is through Happy Expression, So, go ahead and dream, draw, chat, write, sing, dress up and dance!

While I feel strongly that emotional health can benefit your life, These are not orders or commands that must be obeyed, They are merely Happy Suggestions to help you deal with pain and strife, Much of which stems from all of the decisions you've made.

Happy Wisdom is just a bunch of thoughts, Things we merely think and hold on to even so, Fussing and a fighting and never letting go, Will only twist and tie ourselves into painful knots

Happy Morality comes from within, We all have Balanced Growth, but sometimes we forget, But keeping that in mind is what helps us to win, Letting us stay Nice regardless of the threat.

Happy Service doesn't mean constantly giving, For you'd very quickly run out of all that you own, Instead it's more about caring, sharing, and living With the feeling that none of us is ever alone.

Happy Resourcefulness means being able to solve problems and adapt, To navigate through any obstacles previously unmapped. When you encounter the unfamiliar, do you give up or search for clues? Whether you quit or look for solutions, you become whatever you choose.

The power of wishing comes from admitting to yourself what you want, turning your idle ruminations into something far less nonchalant, something with intention and direction--a mental kickstart when feeling stuck, which prepares you to seize opportunities, the very definition of Luck. Ep. 114 - Happy Luck

Give yourself Happy Say-So  to say yes to what you like and no to what you don't,  No one else gets to decide your tastes for you,  as they're based upon what you will  and what you won't.

Take every chance to combat fear, sorrow and pain, Challenge yourself to turn them into something that uplifts, You'll surprise yourself with how much strength you contain, Life is the lesson that shows you such gifts.

Whether you got nothing or tons-- the Human Condition is everyone's. Complain if you like, but keep it in check, focusing on failure will just leave you a wreck!

We all sometimes fall,  Get twisted, confused, take our eye off the ball,  But falling doesn't mean failure—no. Failure only happens when… After we fall we quit and refuse to ever get up again.

While I may make these reminders for me, I post them for anybody to see, and a few people have joined me on these Happy Roads to the point that it just surpassed ten thousand downloads!

Sometimes having a boundary can be the best freedom.

Less insurrection, more redirection.

Moods are a choice, not a right.

 Speaking to the Happy in you.

That guiding thought that gives your life direction and purpose.

The fringe of the fringe so rarely impinge.

Try on each mood for just a minute, enough to taste, but not get lost in it.

Arriving isn't nearly so valuable as the trip.

Ever feel trapped? It can happen to anyone, but it can also be helped by how you choose to deal with it.

There's always one.

Embrace the Uncertainty.   *** The Happy Unknown We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends!   People often fear the unknown. ‘Cause they've been taught to fear it, since before they were grown, But here's the funny bit, there's way more outside the zone of what there is fully known. The cosmos is a huge mystery. Sure, we may have our guesses, but take one look at history To see we find more Nos than Yeses, Though we wrack our brains raw and blistery, We have a tough time telling what's golden or just glistery. When we go to sleep, we don't know what we'll dream, when we wake up, we don't know which breath will be our last, or even what unlikely trend will next become mainstream. Stock analysts and meteorologists gamble on every forecast, Yesterday's anecdote may become tomorrow's viral meme, Uncertainty is all around us, an endlessly recurring theme. So, I say, don't let your fear get too overblown, not knowing everything isn't the same as fire and brimstone, you can simply accept and embrace the Happy Unknown. Haha Yowza