Don't Worry Be Happy

One of the biggest burdens of Man must be his worries. His inclination to dwell on and "catastrophize", if you will, almost everything, usually matters he can do precious little about. On few other things do we waste such a great amount of time and energy.

Today, let's examine a few of the main worries of life and see just how futile it is to worry about them.

To varying extents, we're all afraid of aging. No one feels good about creasing skin, and graying or thinning hair. But if you've been in contact with enough senior persons, you'll realize that their appearance is just a shell. Their personality and energy are what shines through. There's nothing you can do to stop the effect of time on your looks, but you can adopt habits that can slow down the aging process. And develop such an attractive and vivacious personality that your looks become secondary.

Money is another big worry of life. We've all been conditioned to believe that we can't survive without money. But what's our definition of survival? In an age and society such as ours, it's not just about filling our stomachs and shelter from the elements. To us, surviving means being able to afford the good things in life. How many so-called "poor" people in Singapore and in other developed countries own TVs, mobile phones, air-conditioners, and even cars? How much money we need is a point of view. Many people who are far from being cash-strapped worry about money. But just think about how many things you spend your money on that you don't really need. Change the way you see money and you'll find yourself more comfortable with your financial status.

We also tend to worry about our relationships - and too often, it's our very insecurity that strains them. Suspicion can ruin a relationship by focusing on its apparent flaws and ignoring its strengths. Besides, worrying takes away from enjoying your relationship in the present. You may not realize it, but dwelling on negative emotions in a relationship is the surest way to kill it, not fading romance, not children, not work. Relationships are best maintained by filling them with blissful emotions. Always remember what made you fall in love with your partner or spouse. And use that to defuse any potential conflict.

And finally? Death. The ultimate worry, the Great Leveller, the one that comes to everyone, rich or poor, young or old, healthy or sick. Death can come at any place and at any time. It's not your choice when and how it happens, but if you think about it, no one deserves any more life than what we now possess. Every moment we're alive is one more than we deserve. Every breath is a bonus. Just think of all the children who die everyday from malnutrition and war. Do you deserve to live while they deserve death? Take every moment you're alive as a bonus.