Happiness NOT Allowed

In uncertain and stressful times like we are experiencing now, it is easy to be discouraged. The news floods us with crisis after crisis (never explaining how we seem to survive each news cycle of new problems). Unfortunately, this daily grind of bad news, fear mongering, and crisis creating has made people scared and angry.

Lashing out at others seems to have become the prescription de jour. While it is a fleeting way to feeling better, people don't know what else to do. So, the anger, accusations, lashing out, and fear go around and around in a cynical cycle all the while people desperately hope to find some happiness.

Just this last week the Social Security Administration had a conference and training for 600+ of their employees. The media lashed out at them for frivilous spending and people jumped on the band wagon shaking their fingers madly at the ghastly administration that would dare have a conference. Isn't it interesting that it is hard to be happy for others when we feel down ourselves? Even more interesting I find is that we often try to pull them back down to where we are in misery rather than trying to lift others up.

In this down economy is happiness NOT allowed? Why have we allowed anger and fear to consume us? Why do we frown when others succeed? Why can't we be happy that the Social Security Administration is trying to build the morale and skills of their workforce? Why must we be mad because they had fun in the process?

One more example from this week: Another government agency recently posted (and then retracted the posting) for speakers on humor in the workplace. They wanted someone to show their employees the value of being happy, but once the Congress heard about it, they retracted the request. Apparently, even Congress gets jealous if someone else is trying to find happiness. Of course, the criticism is surrounded by excuses and it justifies the anger even further.

I challenge us all to rethink where we are headed. Instead of making anger and fear the status quo, let's change the dialogue and create the happiness we all desperately seek. Instead of tearing others down, let's build them up.

Happiness NOT Allowed? Since when was that such a good idea?