Turn that smile upside down

And frown that smile away!

Ok, so I picked up a book by one of my favorite authors, and it was yet another book on how to be happy. I am so disappointed that I have to rant for a bit.

Our society is obsessed with being happy. Not long ago there was an article in Discover Magazine about people who are taking classes on how to be happier. Psychiatrists are constantly drugging perfectly miserable people into states of artificial toleration. Your local corner zealot is currently selling happiness by the can. Pulpits are being pounded, and books are being perused for the location of the fountain of happiness. Why? 'Cause that is how humans should feel!

I'm not convinced. Humans are often unhappy, but does that mean it is wrong or unnatural to feel unhappy? Wouldn't the unnatural thing be to only feel one emotion? We are designed to experience many emotions, why skimp on all the others? Have you ever noticed how unproductive happiness is? Your mind wanders, you burst into annoying songs that are usually off key, and you smile vacuously. Now contrast that to people who are angry. Do you really think that anybody would have fought the British for America if they were all content and happy. Don't you think they had to be really ticked off in order to dump all their favorite beverage out into the sea? A happy person would have just smiled and shrugged off the extra pennies. Happy people don't riot, and governments know it. That's why so many rulers were insistent on their people having a religion, because religion teaches people to be happy and accepting of their circumstances.

What about the memorable speeches in history? Do you think they came from smiling, happy people? NO! Martin Luther King was most unhappy about the way people were being treated, and he told everyone. When there are gross injustices happening to us, or in the world, we shouldn't just shrug them off. We should get angry and sad. Don't be a Stepford Wife!

I think the real problem for many people is similar to that of the child that has been eating candy all day. She is starting to get sick on all the sweets, but she just keeps looking for the best pieces thinking it will make her feel better. We should have happy times, but to try to be happy all the time is just wrong and shallow. Telling people to be happy all the time is just a fancy way of recommending egocentricism. People need to care about something larger than just themselves and their own little minds. But ironically, this often won't make you happy. You will feel sad and angry and revolted. However, you won't feel sick.

So today I suggest that you have a goal of going out and trying to make just one person a little bit unhappier.