Are worried about all the strife in our world today? The worst thing you can do for your health is worry. Please read the following excerpt from the book Cheerfulness as a Life Power. This book was written in the 1800′s but it is still very applicable to our current times. After reading you will probably think it was written yesterday.
Cheerfulness has a wonderful lubricating power. It lengthens the life of human machinery, as lubricants lengthen the life of inert machinery. Life’s delicate bearings should not be carelessly ground away for mere lack of oil. What is needed is a habit of cheerfulness, to enjoy every day as we go along; not to fret and stew all the week, and then expect to make up for it Sunday or on some holiday. It is not a question of
mirth so much as of cheerfulness; not alone that which accompanies laughter, but serenity,–a calm, sweet soul-contentment and inward peace. Are there not multitudes of people who have the “blues,” who yet wish well to their neighbors? They would say kind words and make the
world happier–but they “haven’t the time.” To lead them to look on the sunny side of things, and to take a little time every day to speak pleasant words, is the message of the hour.
Prince Wolkonsky, during a visit to this country, declared that
“Business is the alpha and omega of American life. There is no pleasure, no joy, no satisfaction. There is no standard except that of profit. There is no other country where they speak of a man as worth so many dollars. In other countries they live to enjoy life; here they exist for business.” A Boston merchant corroborated this statement by saying he was anxious all day about making money, and worried all night for fear
he should lose what he had made.
It’s hard to believe this was written so long ago and not much has changed in over 110 years.
