The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-12
Happiness a Habit.
Phil. Ledger.]

Phil. Ledger.
When we think of good habits, the
ideas of industry, economy, order, truth
fulness, and many other desirable quail
| ities naturally arise in our minds, but
probably the thought of happiness as a
| habit is an unfamiliar one to most of us.
We usually connect the idea of happi-
ness either with the possession of the
various advantages which we covet, or
| with the tendency Of our constitutions; I;
some people we know being born with
sunny and glad temperament, and
others with a sombre cast. In both
cases, however, it is, we imagine, an
involuntary effort for which We can
hardly be held responsible. To be sure,
we are often admonished to lead good
and righteous lives, and assured that
happiness will follow, and in that way
an indirect obligation may be incurred !;
but as for considering happiness itself
to be something which it is our duty to
pursue and attain, many persons shrink
from the idea.
One reason for this is, that they con-
found the idea of happiness with that
of pleasure. Now, pleasure is tran
sient feeling, excited and baRished by
turns by thousand different causes,
while happiness is permanent state of
mind far less dependent upon any spec
| ial accident of fortune or of circumstan-
ces. There are pleasures of all grades,
| from that of the drUnkard in his glass,
or the thief in his booty, to that of the
astronomer who discoversa new planet,
or the philanthropist who rejoices In
the gladness he has given. But happiness
is an equal condition unconnected with
any special excitement: and though the
happy man has many pleasures, the
mere pleasure seeker rarely has true
happiness.
Every permanent state of mind is
largely the effect Of habit. Just as We
can perform an action so continually
that it comes to be habitual, so we can
encourage conditions of mind till they too
come tobe habits of thinking and ever
of feeling. Every thoughtful parent Of
teacher recognizes this in the training O.
youth. The child constantly thwartee
or scolded or ridiculed has constantly
aroused within him feelings of resent
, ment or disbursement or misery, anC
these grow to be habitual, and char
; acter for ill-temper or moToseness or de
spondency is formed. On the othe
| hand. the child who is wisely treated
whose faculties are brought into action
T who is encouraged to do well, VINO J
surrounded witt cheerful faces an
t orderly arrangements, becomes accus
7 toned to corresponding habits
: thought and feeling. The exercise o
self-control, of truthfulness, of honesty
and other essential qualities, not onl
result in habitual actions Of the sam
nature, but in habitual feelings or state
: of mind that induce those actions. }
the condition which we call happines
!, is likewise acquired to a considerabl
! degree. It involves within it man
! things. but they are not impossible TO s.
!, cure, and, When ne have deceived then
: it rests with Us to encourage or discou
4 age them. Happiness Is not only
!. privilege, but duty, not mere ou
: ward good that may perhaps come to u
+ but an inward possession which We al
a bound to attaiIi. When We rememb'
!. the contagious character of happlnes
! the strength, courage and hope It e,
q cites by its very presence and the pow
I for good it exerts in every direction, v
t1--e-NS-
e much of it as possible.
!. Let us not. however, mistake Il
10 means. Wealth, station, applause, lu
,e ury, so often sought, are not necessar
4 They often minister to i, but It c;
At flourish without them. Health Is mo
ae essential, though there are some hap
Z invalids. A moderate supply Ct &
- 4, PHYSICAL conn sarts 81 lliesee1ns nee0fl
n though hspps EoreFty ha
dwell togethl Ihe exercise of b
/. faculties in some useful md eaasi|
h congenial dire ion i 8 large eoI' lzE but
IT. Idleness and o7eruofk are both Dis
st trous to bapnir4ss So IS vice ia
1t its forms, whatever be the zlltIeEI
:. pleasures it holds out Successful I
deavor of every Tit {. IL kind, obelien
to the voice of considered and reas|
the love and help We gre. even nii
than that He eceirs are All minister
= influences Of kAppincSs Hti3 se eanl
- deny that there sre people Who app|
- to fulfill al - most Of these eondilio
:. who vet can1ot Be considered hap
Nle N They look ut6n the dark side6f thin
u they hope lsftIe and fear much. II
- shut out The s6Ilsline Of life and live
- Is shadow. It IS this class 81 peo
= who have speciaI need to be conF inI
II II that happin i 4 dnATs and may
vi VI made habit they are eensEaati tie
- but their c8nzrlEneea need e1 1argl
:. The plant courts ihs sunlight for
~ gladdenine inauencs. and Is s. dsi
' .ns fuIlfils the LasF 81 its being. and ez.,,'s
.sl into the fullest aud fiele life oE IF
- - il Is eapzf So If We c5nFz zEe s