Setting Rules for Happiness

“Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice.” 

This is one of the greatest lessons I've learned from Stephen Covey, the author of "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People."

Happiness is a choice. It's a decision. This is the reason why you can see some people with a lot of problems, sufferings, disabilities, plus they don't have a lovelife (hahaha, just kidding!), then they can still afford to be happy.

Have you heard the life of the Patron of the Unwanted, Blessed Margaret of Castello?

The parents of Margaret was so excited in 1287 to the birth of their long awaited first child. But when the baby was born, no bells were rung and no feast was given. Opposite to what the parents were expecting, Margaret was born blind, hunchback, with one leg shorter than the other. The parents could not find room in their heart for Margaret. They decided to hide the baby and tell no one about her. They hired a servant to take care of Margaret and this servant gave her the name of  "Margaret" which means "Pearl."

When Margaret was 6, her parents keep her in a tiny cell adjacent to the family chapel. She was not allowed  to go out, but could attend Mass and Sacraments. She lived there until she was 16, having food and necessities passed in to her only through a window. Hoping for some miracles to happen, her parents took her to a church in Castelo but she was still not cured. This was the time when her parents fully abandoned her in the streets of town. Margaret became a beggar until Dominican nuns helped her and gave her food and shelter to survive.

Despite all the hardships and trials she encountered and her disabilities, Margaret made a decision to spend the rest of her life in hobbling about the streets to take care of the sick and to visit the prisoners. Despite her miseries, Margaret was serene, cheerful, and courageous.She never looked at her life as miserable, but tried her best to serve and help other people. Discouragement was a word she did not know. She never became bitter, never complained, never reproached others or lost heart. She still decided to be HAPPY.

Here's the lesson:
Sometimes, people complain easily when things happen the way they don't want them to happen, which will cause them to be unhappy. But only if they can focus on their blessings, not on the problems, they can be really HAPPY.

Whatever happens in your life that is beyond your control, happiness will always be your choice.
Set simple rules of happiness. Be grateful with what you have, with the blessings that flow in your life.
Allow yourself to be happy more frequently regardless of what's happening in your life.

Be inspired by the story of St. Margaret of Castelo and be humble before God.
And you will be truly HAPPY.

Live a happy life,
Maya