DEVELOP A HABIT OF HAPPINESS
from Br. Mark Anokwuru, the superior

People are constantly sad and irritated. Some are not friendly sort of persons. Some are worriers. Some are always depressed. Some would wake up in the morning and find themselves sad. Why are these so? These are learned behaviors. They are habits we developed from our family backgrounds, from the society and from life experi-ences. The good news is that we can reprogram our computer or better put, we can do cognitive restructuring. Cognitive restructuring is a technique that can help people identify, challenge and alter stress-inducing thought patterns and beliefs. It is an anti-dote for depression.
Many people wait for their circumstances to be worked out before they decide to be happy. For example, I will be happy when I take the first position in class, when my enemies have apologized for their wrong doing etc. If we want to be happy, we need to make a decision to be happy right now. Listen! Happiness does not depend on our circumstances; it depends on our will. It is a choice that we make.
marcellin champagnat...

The popular saying has it that, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “The first step to become holy is to will it.” Will that you will be happy and you will. If you want to live a happy life, learn to relax, learn to go with the flow instead of getting frustrated. Believe that God is in control and is the driver and not you. Be grateful for what you have.
Rather than complaining for what you don’t have. Always remember to do this: Count your blessings instead of your cross, Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes. Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smile instead of tears. Count your courage instead of your fears. Know that each day is full of surprises and incon-veniences. We must accept the fact that my plans are not always going to work out the way I scheduled them. Sometimes, everything can go wrong and when you have one of those days, which you can’t change, what will you do?