Boulder City Magazine is a monthly publication full of information about Boulder City and Southern Nevada. Boulder City Magazine features the Boulder City Home Guide, a real estate guide to Boulder City and Southern Nevada.

A Kid's View
by Giovanni Venezia

Happiness

Happiness is an odd word. It’s so simple, yet so complex. Over the last few months, I have done a lot of thinking about what it means. What causes happiness, and what do we truly define as happiness?

Also, certain science points so much at happiness being involved almost solely on medications and chemical things in the brain. However, a true and significant part of that are our conscious decisions and thoughts. In other words, we can choose happiness.

In Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Mr. Covey introduces the idea of “being your own circle of influence.” Sounds odd, but then it makes sense. Some people complain that things around them are their influence. For example, some complain they have a bad day just because it’s hot outside. However, others are happy, even if they don’t enjoy the heat, because they are their OWN circle influencing things, not the outside factors. One story in particular made me realize the true power in this.

There was a psychologist by the name of Viktor Frankl. Mr. Frankl was taken as a survivor of the holocaust. Everything around him was purely awful, the worst any of us could imagine. But, he managed to stay somewhat happy - he didn’t let the outside things really influence him. This is a passage from his book, A Man’s Search for Meaning, relating to his holocaust experience: “A prisoner felt that he could no longer endure the realities of camp life, he found a way out in his mental life– an invaluable opportunity to dwell in the spiritual domain, the one that the SS were unable to destroy. Spiritual life strengthened the prisoner, helped him adapt, and thereby improved his chances of survival.” It really shows the idea of choosing to not let the circumstances defeat you.

I am encountered with this constantly in everyday life. I meet some very fortunate people who are very negative and constantly upset. I’ve also met some who may be facing troubles, yet are very happy people. Somebody always has it more difficult, so be thankful for your blessings. I don’t know about you, but I personally enjoy choosing to be happy!




Boulder City Magazine®
688 Wells Rd #A
Boulder City, Nevada 89005
Phone (702) 972-0661
E-mail: BoulderCityMagazine@gmail.com



Web Site Design by Appleby Arts
Copyright © 2004 - 2011 - Boulder City Magazine - All Rights Reserved
E-mail Web Master at: webmaster@bouldercitymagazine.com

Disclaimer