Climb Happiness Hill

Practicing The Happiness Habit

“Learn to Laugh, Learn to Cry”

Stoicism: Holding In Our Emotions

Stoicism – (stō-isz’Əm) n. 1. Indifference to pleasure or pain;

impassiveness – a philosophical movement of the Hellenistic period. The name derives from the porch (stoa poikilê) in the Agora at Athens where the members of the school congregated. The Stoics held that emotions arose from false judgments and that the wise man— a person who had attained moral and intellectual perfection—would not entertain them.

• Do you feel comfortable expressing your emotions? • Do you approve of others expressing their emotions?

Christianity: Expressing Our Emotions Righteously

Agree or Disagree: “Emotions are the Devil’s tools”

Agree or Disagree: “Our emotions, like our thoughts,

desires and choices, ought to be under the Holy Spirit's guidance in terms of type, intensity and expression.”

Agree or Disagree: “Emotion is to be rejected, because

they expresses our passionate, irrational sin nature.”

Healthy Expression

“Eminent psychologists have pointed out that a large percent of ALL ailments could be overcome, or at least tolerated, if we could only learn to laugh and cry.”

Prov. 17:22 – “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

“Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.”— Arnold H. Glasow

10 Reasons Why Laughter is Good for Us!

1. Laughter boosts your immune system 2. Laughter relieves pain 3. Laughter improves your social life 4. Laughter helps relieve depression 5. Laughter boosts your relationship 6. Laughter gives you a mini-work-out 7. Laughter protects your heart 8. Laughter lowers your blood pressure 9. Laughter improves your breathing 10. Laughter helps you lose weight

“Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.”— Henry W. Beecher

Lighten Up!

“You have as much laughter as you have faith.” ― Martin Luther

“You know, the Lord only left me two teeth. But thank the Lord, they meet.”

Research shows that on average children laugh up to 400 times a day, while adults do it only 17 times !

“A laugh is a smile that bursts.” — Mary H. Waldrip

Learn To Cry

Bubba Watson, Winner of the 2012 Masters

Sherrie Shepherd voted off “Dancing With the Stars.”

Mature people, happy people, successful people have always learned to laugh and cry in the appropriate times.

Pres. George H.W. Bush and his son Gov. Jeb Bush

“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this: When you die, will YOU be happy when everybody else is crying?” – Tony Campolo

Crying CAN Be Very Christ-like

Jn. 11:35 says, “Jesus wept” over the doubt and fear of Mary and Martha at Lazarus’ grave. Matt 23:37/Lk. 19:41 describes Jesus as weeping over the faithlessness of His people, Israel.

"God will heal your broken heart, if you will give Him all the pieces.” (unknown)

One of the Happiest things One Can Do

• Cathartic • Jesus Did it! • Not Without Hope • Genuine Empathy

“I didn’t say anything. We just cried together.”

A Final Observation

If Jesus can face the Cross with an appropriate joy, and an appropriate sadness, I guess I can face my experiences with the same ambition. (based on Heb. 12:1-2)

Normal, Healthy people laugh and cry.

SMILE, GOD LOVES YOU!