21 Apr How to Live a Joyful Life | Inspirational Podcasts
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Now, let’s move on to today’s classic inspirational reading, which has been edited and adapted from the book The Ideal Made Real by Christian D. Larson, published in 1909.
We meet something at almost every turn that we think ought to be different. If we have high ideals, we may not feel satisfied to permit those conditions to remain as they are. We may even complain or antagonize. On the other hand, if our ideals be low, we may feel wholly indifferent, but then we find that those things go from bad to worse.
What we seek is our present comfort on the one hand and the betterment of everything about us on the other. And we wish to know how this may be brought about in the midst of the confusion, the ignorance and the ills, that we find in the world. When we are indifferent to the wrong it becomes worse. Therefore, even for our own good, we must do something with those adverse conditions that exist in the home, in society, or in our country. We must meet all those things and meet them properly, but the problem is, how?
To antagonize, criticize, or condemn never helps matters in the least. Besides, such states of mind are a detriment to one’s own peace and health. The critical mind wears itself out while thinking about the wrong, but the wrong in the meantime goes on becoming worse. To feel disappointed because the universe does not move according to our fancy will not change the universe, but it will produce weakness in our own mind and body.
The usual way of dealing with the problems of life solves nothing. The ordinary way of meeting temptation gives the tempter greater power, while the person who tries to resist is usually entrapped in adversity and trouble. But here is what we should do under all such circumstances. Count it all joy. That is the secret. Count it all joy no matter what may come; agreeing with all adversity at once, antagonizing nothing; condemning no one, leaving criticism alone.
Never be disappointed or discouraged, and have nothing whatever to do with worry. Whatever comes, count it all joy. Those who meet adversity in an attitude of peace, harmony, and joy will turn their enemies into friends, and failures into a greater good.
When things do not come your way, never mind. Continue to count everything joy, and everything will change in such a manner as to give you joy. If you are seeking the best, all things will work together in such a way as to give you the best, and your heart’s desire shall be realized—possibly not today, but life is long; you can wait. That which is good is always good. It is always welcome whenever it comes. In the meantime, you are living in harmony and joy, and that in itself is surely a good thing.
The person who lives constantly in gloom drives even the sunshine out of their own mind; the clouds of gloom are so heavy that they fail to see the brightness that is all about them. However, the person who counts everything joy will change everything to brightness and thus receive joy from everything.
When you fail to receive what you sought, never for a moment be disappointed. Count it all joy. In fact, be supremely happy. You have a reason so to be. When you fail to get what you seek, it simply means that there is something still better in store for you; so why should you not count such an event a great joy? This is always the case when your whole desire is to receive the best. And when you train yourself to count everything joy, your mind develops that desire that always desires the best…..
Read The Entire Essay in Evergreen: 50 Inspirational Life Lessons
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