Part 3

Therefore, keep happy.

On the moral and ethical side, non-happiness, especially in the form of worry, is cowardly, unbalanced, against moral consistency and persistency, against self-control and self-mastery, and very unkind to others.

Therefore, keep happy.

Non-happiness shortens life, and brings premature, incompetent, burdensome old age.

It is selfish, in the worst sense of the word; for there is a selfishness that is altruistic.

It harms posterity, as--among other proofs--we see from the influence of a mother upon her babe before as well as after birth.

It makes us less independent and less free. Therefore, keep happy.

How Happiness Helps

Happiness, by the “expulsive power” of a positive state of mind, drives out or neutralises or cancels non-happiness, instead of the mind being left open to the seven other devils, as it may be when we merely try not to be non-happy. The happy heart is too full for non-happiness, as the light room is too light for darkness. As Mr. A. Knight says, Happiness fills the heart with its three companions, Health, Harmony, and Helpfulness.

Therefore, keep happy.

Happiness works in the opposite of the vicious circle. It makes for greater happiness. It is self-increasing. Among other reasons, it purifies and invigorates the blood, and this in itself inclines the mind towards further and greater Happiness. It creates the habit of Happiness, the bias towards Happiness. It stores the memory with Happiness, for future use. Prospectively, Happiness must be valued as a great asset.

Therefore, keep happy.

Happiness does not merely aid in removing mental and physical Non-Health, in such forms as depression and fear, “nerves” and their troubles, fatigue, sleeplessness or bad sleep, bad circulation, congestion, and so on. It actually produces positive Health, Well-being, and Fitness, as well as increased Self-Healing and “Preventive” Power.

Therefore, keep happy.

Think of the letter E alone. Happiness tends to Health, in its various aspects:--

Enjoyment of life and of all that life brings us;

Energy--for Health gives a tonic without reaction;

Economy--for, when we are happy, we need neither drugs nor stimulants nor narcotics nor holidays; Happiness saves vast stores of precious power, both physical and mental;

Endurance--what long hours we can work when we are happy;

Ease;

Efficiency;

Therefore, keep happy.

Happiness brings the right vibrations throughout the mind and body, partly through the Solar Plexus and the Sympathetic Nervous System. Only lately have we begun to realise the importance of the rate and character of vibrations. Let the same elements vibrate differently, and we have ice or water or steam. We know the full and elastic firmness and resilience of faith, the shrunken and paralysed trembling of fear. It is largely a difference of vibrations. Happiness has the most desirable vibrations.

Happiness means that we inhale more life-giving and cleansing oxygen, and exhale more carbonic acid and other waste matter.

Happiness means that we have better sleep, and can do with less sleep.

Happiness means improved circulation. It keeps the body warm in winter and cool in summer. It relieves the physical heart.

Therefore, keep happy.

Happiness gives better looks. It makes the eyes brighter, the complexion clearer, the step more vigorous, the carriage more upright.