A SIMPLE LESSON IN ARITHMETIC

A Simple Lesson in Arithmetic

Most people think finding happiness is a matter of addition.

They believe that happiness will come after the acquisition of something or series of things. They’ll be happy when they get a new car, a new home, a new job, a new pair of jeans, a new wife, a new friend, more money, more power and so it goes.
And it works…for awhile. For a period of time after the new acquisition, they are happy.

But, the happiness wears off rather quickly. And they find themselves looking for that new thing that will make them happy and then the next new thing and the next and the next until they spend their whole lives accumulating things only to realize too late that that’s not where happiness is at all.

What if happiness isn’t so much about addition as it is about subtraction?

In all the major religions and spiritual traditions of the world, it is taught that happiness is not found in acquisition but rather it is found in sharing, paring and letting go.

This seems counter-intuitive in our western culture. We are, after all, about success and the American Dream. But, the dream cannot bring happiness unless it is a means of sharing and propping up the rest of the world. The house, 2.5 kids and two-car garage may bring comfort and a sense of accomplishment. But, it won’t bring lasting happiness.

True and lasting happiness comes from letting go of those things which make us unhappy such as greed, anger, resentment, jealousy, fear and disorganization in our lives.

Look around you and consider your life. What bothers you on a daily basis? Are you holding a grudge? Let go and forgive. As you subtract that emotion, you will find your happiness increasing.

Are you angry at a loved one, your boss or a situation? Resolve the issue, subtract the anger from your life and increase your happiness.

Do you find yourself envying those who have more than you? Envy is a heavy burden to bear, because someone will always have more than you. Get it out of your thoughts and increase your happiness.

Are you afraid? Confront your fear, alone or with help, and bring it down to size. Removing the fear will allow you to enjoy your happiness.

Do the things you’ve accumulated over the years while trying to find happiness get in the way of your contentment? Are you so busy guarding and polishing and insuring your possessions that you are overwhelmed by them? Do you own all the things you’ve accumulated? Or do they own you?

If your life is full of the clutter of things which no longer make you happy, then sweep those things out of your life. Give them away and make room in your life for the contentment found in simplicity.

According to researchers, children laugh at least 20 times a day. Adults laugh on average four to five times a day. What do children have that we don’t have? They have less… less of those things and emotions which crowd out happiness.

So, use some simple arithmetic. Use subtraction to add happiness to your life.

It may sound like fuzzy math, but it works every time it’s tried. n