The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-11-14

ment let us now examine II and see
II this definition fits you and me,
Jane Jack and Sally-everybody.
Many of us think wealth is happi-
ness; we think IL we only had mil
lion dollars we would be happy. But
would we? Let's examine a few mil
lionnaires for happiness. Happiness
glows in the face and manner of a
person and invariably manifests in
kindness. even love, for everybody.
But have you noticed smiles wreath
ing the faces Of many millionnaires?
No? You are right, and furthermore
most of them will tell you they are
not happy; that money does not
bring happiness, but, on the contrary,
cares and worry. Uneasy lies the
head crowned with the 5 mark. But
this does not mean that all million
nsires are unhappy; some are hap
py in spite of their money. 1t isn't
the money that brought them happi-
hcob, tiidt hccpS tuch hdppys uul
the achieving of ends, the accom-
plishment of tasks they set them
selves; money, to them, is but an in
cident II is the successful exercise
of their own abilities that approx
mates happiness for them, and, they
will tel you further, it is the continu
alton of this exercise, this achieve
nent, this accomplishment that
keeps them happy. Many of them
give their money away, establish ed
ucational foundations, charities and
other benevoleces for the people.
Now we have the happy and un-
happy millionaire. Both have an
equal amount of money, yet the ef
feet of it is exactly opposite, ane hap
py, the other unhappy.
And where is the difference?
Just this; the unhappy millionaire
loved money for its own sake, what
it could buy him, believing that it
could buy him happiness. He work.
ed for it, slaved for it and got it, and
is now worried to death trying to
keep it-certainly not happy state.
To the happy millionaire money is
only an incident, forgotten in the
joyous progression of achievement
Both are merely states of mind, their
respective reactions to one and the
same thing, wealth. But if you think
you will be happy with money | will
show you, during this course, how
to make a million dollars. I've made
more than a million-and spent most
of it educating young people; service
to humanity, helping people to help
themselves and others, is my idea of
happiness; it is happiness to me.
Others of us win lay love is happi-
ness. Surely we are nearer the race
ideal with il than with money. But
what is love but a state of mind? Be
cause of the lack of space we will
have to rely on our one illustration
to demonstrate our principle, to ex-
plify our definition, and rush on to
the achieving of happiness, which is
far more important than defining it.
First approximate to yourself your
idea of happiness. Get it firmly fix
ed in your mind whether it be the
inc Of hn xuin nf
love. fame, whatever ii is, and we
shall set out to win ii. Whatever
your idea of happiness may be you
will see that it is state of mind.
Now you can control this making
of this state of mind; in fact, you
can make it, Nothing can effect you
except as you let it. It's all in the
way you look at il, the point of view, |
your Interpretation of the event
A crowd watches a mans home
burn. One is filed with sorrow for
his loss; another with joyous excite
ment. still another with concern for
the safety of his own home in the
neighborhood; others ex-
perience other emotions; yet the fire
is the self same fire; each sees the
same fire. the same home burning. and
reacts differently. Why? Merely
because of his individual point of
view, his state of mind created by
this indulgence.
You may select your indulgence.
select only that which you win ac-
cept and reject all other impressions.
Thus. you can build habit of hap
piness selecting only the things that
you believe will bring you happiness,
dwell upon them. and build them in
to your life. into your mind. thus Gre
ating the state that is happiness to
you.
Let us prove IL by illustration:
Thoughts are things, and create their
kind. The scriptures tell us that "As