SUCCESS MAKING

Why A Little Boy Smiling In The Window Can Show You How To Stop Feeling So Sad

Imagine you’re watching a four year boy pass by the Macy’s department store window with his mother as she’s walking down a New York City street.  He stops, looks in the window, and begins to smile.  He can see his reflection in the mirror and he starts laughing.  He seems so content and happy.

Of course, this little boy has no reason to be happy, right?

After all, in modern society, MONEY+SUCCESS=HAPPINESS.  But this little boy doesn’t have millions of dollars.  He doesn’t drive a fancy sports car.  Heck, he doesn’t even drive.  But he’s smiling in the department store window at his reflection anyway.  He’s just happy.  And he’s doing it even though he doesn’t meet the conventional definition of success.  And by conventional success, I mean being rich enough to be able to afford a fancy car or a big, expensive house.

“Aha!”, you say.  But we don’t expect people that age to be “successful.”  It’s enough that they’re carefree and joyous.

And I would agree with you.  For the little boy, we define success as being a kid.  He can suck on lollipops, run around, play with others, and just be happy.  He doesn’t need a fancy stereo system, five-thousand square foot house, and all that other keeping-up-with-the-Joneses “stuff” to be happy.  For this little boy, we would define success as just being happy and knowing he is a worthwhile human being.  In fact, you’ve just proven to yourself that there was a point in your life where you  actually didn’t need a lot of “stuff” in order to be happy and have good self-esteem.

So what do you need to be happy today?

What are your expectations for what you need to acquire in order to be happy?  A million dollars?  A brand new boat?  I’ve got news for you.  You don’t need any of it.  You just need the bare minimum.

Over the past decade, researchers have found that once you’re living above the poverty level, more money does not equal more happiness.  That’s right, inheriting a Bill Gates-sized fortune will not increase your happiness one iota.

So what will increase your happiness?

That’s easy.  Just be like that little boy smiling in the Macy’s window.  Appreciate the present moments.  Cultivate good relationships.  Decide that you’re a valuable human being without all the extra “stuff.”  As one of my favorite authors Wayne Dyer likes to say,

“Self-esteem comes from the self, not from acquisitions and approval.”

About the Author

If you liked this article, get inspired with some more Wayne Dyer quotes or other mental health articles at the Zentactics website.

Adam Appleson uses the lessons he learned from a challenging childhood to help others who have survived tough times learn how to lead healthy and happy lives. He is the founder of ZenTactics, the self help site for survivors of dysfunctional and abusive families.