1 00:00:21,500 --> 00:00:25,820 Speaker 1: Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Here thousands of 2 00:00:25,860 --> 00:00:29,340 Speaker 1: hours of Dennis's lectures, courses in classic radio programs, and 3 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:40,700 Speaker 1: to purchase Dennisprager's Rational Bibles, go to Dennisprager dot com. 4 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:44,179 Speaker 2: It's the Happy, Happy, Happy Happy Our Yes it is. 5 00:00:44,220 --> 00:00:48,860 Speaker 3: It's the Happy, Happy, Happy Happy Our Yes it is. Hey, everybody, 6 00:00:49,820 --> 00:00:52,340 Speaker 3: this is it, no matter what, pretty much, no matter what. 7 00:00:52,780 --> 00:00:55,420 Speaker 3: We have the Happiness Hour on the Dennis Prager Show 8 00:00:55,460 --> 00:01:02,460 Speaker 3: every Friday at this time, because happiness is critical. Yes 9 00:01:02,540 --> 00:01:05,300 Speaker 3: it is, my friends, don't think it is just a 10 00:01:05,460 --> 00:01:10,140 Speaker 3: selfish pursuit. If you get happy, you make people around 11 00:01:10,180 --> 00:01:14,060 Speaker 3: you happier. You have a moral duty to be happy. 12 00:01:14,140 --> 00:01:17,020 Speaker 3: That is correct. That is one of the insights in 13 00:01:17,060 --> 00:01:21,740 Speaker 3: my book, Happiness is a Serious Problem, which I urge 14 00:01:21,740 --> 00:01:24,020 Speaker 3: you to read. I know it sounds like an ad 15 00:01:24,060 --> 00:01:27,259 Speaker 3: I can live with that. What can I have no choice. 16 00:01:27,380 --> 00:01:29,780 Speaker 3: I didn't spend ten years so that nobody would read it. 17 00:01:29,860 --> 00:01:31,700 Speaker 3: Even though it became a best seller, a lot of 18 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:34,540 Speaker 3: you haven't seen it. That is what this show is 19 00:01:34,580 --> 00:01:38,820 Speaker 3: based on. All of those years of talking about, lecturing on, 20 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:42,460 Speaker 3: thinking about working on and a whole lifetime of working 21 00:01:43,060 --> 00:01:47,940 Speaker 3: on being happy, and I'm today's subject is truly what 22 00:01:47,980 --> 00:01:51,940 Speaker 3: I would call a back to basics I have over 23 00:01:51,980 --> 00:01:54,620 Speaker 3: these years, and we are, by the way now producing 24 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:59,340 Speaker 3: CDs of the best of the Happiness hours. I really hope, 25 00:01:59,380 --> 00:02:02,100 Speaker 3: I really do that each of these hours changes your 26 00:02:02,140 --> 00:02:05,420 Speaker 3: life in some way. That is how much weight I 27 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:09,180 Speaker 3: place upon the importance of this hour, and the feedback 28 00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:12,339 Speaker 3: I get justifies my thinking this way, and it means 29 00:02:12,340 --> 00:02:24,460 Speaker 3: a great deal to me. Life is difficult for everyone, everyone, everyone. 30 00:02:25,020 --> 00:02:28,260 Speaker 3: You may not think that because it is very easy 31 00:02:28,340 --> 00:02:31,020 Speaker 3: to look at others' lives and think, oh my god, 32 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:34,380 Speaker 3: they really have it easy. Now, truth is, some have 33 00:02:34,460 --> 00:02:38,740 Speaker 3: it easier than others. Of course that's true. People living 34 00:02:38,780 --> 00:02:43,300 Speaker 3: in Saddam Hussein's Iraq or under the Nazis hardly had 35 00:02:43,620 --> 00:02:47,940 Speaker 3: as life as easy as the vast majority of Americans 36 00:02:48,340 --> 00:02:51,340 Speaker 3: or many other people living in free societies. Of course 37 00:02:51,340 --> 00:02:58,060 Speaker 3: that's true. But by and large, everybody has real issues 38 00:02:58,100 --> 00:03:02,940 Speaker 3: in life. Everyone, there is no exception to that. Not me, 39 00:03:03,940 --> 00:03:07,419 Speaker 3: not the persons that have touched you most in life, 40 00:03:07,460 --> 00:03:11,139 Speaker 3: not your parents, not your spouse, not your kids. Everyone 41 00:03:11,460 --> 00:03:19,020 Speaker 3: has issues. Everyone. Everyone has suffered. Now there are, of 42 00:03:19,060 --> 00:03:25,739 Speaker 3: course different degrees suffering. Obviously, but that's the point. Well, 43 00:03:25,780 --> 00:03:27,820 Speaker 3: that's not the point. In other words, the point is 44 00:03:27,860 --> 00:03:31,260 Speaker 3: that that's not the point. Here's the point. The fact 45 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:34,740 Speaker 3: is that all of us have issues, all of us suffer, 46 00:03:34,860 --> 00:03:37,140 Speaker 3: that life is a challenge for every one of us 47 00:03:37,580 --> 00:03:45,860 Speaker 3: in many, many areas. Therefore, you cannot rely, folks, Listen carefully. 48 00:03:46,660 --> 00:03:54,460 Speaker 3: You cannot rely on life to make you happy. This 49 00:03:54,580 --> 00:03:59,620 Speaker 3: almost sounds incredible, I'm sure, because most people go through 50 00:03:59,660 --> 00:04:03,940 Speaker 3: life thinking I will be happy when something good happens. 51 00:04:04,660 --> 00:04:09,860 Speaker 3: So I rely on life's experiences what happens to make 52 00:04:09,940 --> 00:04:10,460 Speaker 3: me happy. 53 00:04:10,540 --> 00:04:15,780 Speaker 2: But you can't do that. It's wrong. 54 00:04:16,659 --> 00:04:21,099 Speaker 3: Don't rely on life to make you happy. You rely 55 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:26,740 Speaker 3: on your decision to be happy, to be happy. That, 56 00:04:27,099 --> 00:04:35,780 Speaker 3: my friends, is it? Happiness is for most people, not 57 00:04:35,940 --> 00:04:41,260 Speaker 3: speaking of those who have a biochemical incapacity, but for 58 00:04:41,340 --> 00:04:46,539 Speaker 3: the vast majority of people. Happiness certainly in our society. Okay, 59 00:04:46,580 --> 00:04:50,340 Speaker 3: we'll restrict it to our society, and societies as free 60 00:04:50,380 --> 00:04:58,060 Speaker 3: and affluent as ours. Happiness is overwhelmingly a decision that 61 00:04:58,140 --> 00:05:02,580 Speaker 3: you make to be happy. I resolve to be happy, 62 00:05:03,620 --> 00:05:08,180 Speaker 3: because if you let life direct your happiness a you 63 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:12,860 Speaker 3: will fluctuate all day, every day happy now. An hour ago, 64 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:16,180 Speaker 3: I was depressed. Next hour, I will be angry. The 65 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:20,380 Speaker 3: fourth hour, I'll be happy again. Because you are allowing 66 00:05:20,980 --> 00:05:28,580 Speaker 3: life happenings, life's happenings to determine your happiness. Mistake, big mistake. 67 00:05:28,700 --> 00:05:32,740 Speaker 3: Although it seems perfectly natural, and it is natural. That 68 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:37,460 Speaker 3: is exactly natural. It is natural to respond emotionally to events. 69 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:41,220 Speaker 3: Of course, I'm not saying you shouldn't respond emotionally to events. 70 00:05:41,620 --> 00:05:42,180 Speaker 2: You should. 71 00:05:43,260 --> 00:05:47,620 Speaker 3: That is what differentiates you from Big Blue, the IBM computer. 72 00:05:48,540 --> 00:05:51,060 Speaker 3: Big Blue doesn't respond emotionally to events. 73 00:05:51,380 --> 00:05:51,740 Speaker 2: It is. 74 00:05:51,900 --> 00:05:56,180 Speaker 3: That's what makes us human, is emotional response. That's great, 75 00:05:57,140 --> 00:05:59,860 Speaker 3: but you can't let that determine whether or not you'll 76 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:04,900 Speaker 3: be happy. Happiness is something to work on. Listen, why 77 00:06:04,900 --> 00:06:07,140 Speaker 3: do you think I titled my book Happiness is a 78 00:06:07,180 --> 00:06:11,820 Speaker 3: Serious Problem, Because it is, by the way, is very interesting. 79 00:06:11,860 --> 00:06:16,260 Speaker 3: My publisher, Harpercollumns, thought that that was a downer. Dennis, 80 00:06:16,420 --> 00:06:20,100 Speaker 3: They're not gonna buy it. Dennis, you need an up 81 00:06:20,660 --> 00:06:23,500 Speaker 3: You need an uptitle for a book on happiness in particular. 82 00:06:24,020 --> 00:06:26,100 Speaker 3: And I said, yeah, but happiness is a serious problem. 83 00:06:26,140 --> 00:06:29,099 Speaker 3: Happens to be true. People will relate to it, and 84 00:06:29,140 --> 00:06:31,420 Speaker 3: it turns out it was a very good and effective title. 85 00:06:33,140 --> 00:06:36,099 Speaker 3: One eighth Prager seven seven six is the number one 86 00:06:36,180 --> 00:06:39,100 Speaker 3: eight p r A g e Er seven seven six. 87 00:06:39,860 --> 00:06:41,060 Speaker 2: Here's what I want you to call it. 88 00:06:41,140 --> 00:06:43,140 Speaker 3: You can call them on anything, obviously, but here's what 89 00:06:43,180 --> 00:06:46,219 Speaker 3: I want you to call on. That's what I am inviting. A. 90 00:06:46,620 --> 00:06:49,660 Speaker 3: Do you understand what it means when I say it's 91 00:06:49,700 --> 00:06:55,020 Speaker 3: a decision and that you don't just rely on emotionally 92 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:57,420 Speaker 3: reacting to the events of your life to make you 93 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:03,980 Speaker 3: happy or unhappy. B Have you tried this, either successfully 94 00:07:04,260 --> 00:07:09,260 Speaker 3: or unsuccessfully? It was in fact, I think Lincoln who 95 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:12,060 Speaker 3: said we are as happy as we decide to be. 96 00:07:13,820 --> 00:07:14,500 Speaker 3: That is true. 97 00:07:15,460 --> 00:07:15,739 Speaker 2: Gever. 98 00:07:15,820 --> 00:07:18,180 Speaker 3: Notice, let me give you an example from my own life. 99 00:07:18,340 --> 00:07:22,460 Speaker 3: Do you ever notice that virtually every sing I'm up. 100 00:07:22,620 --> 00:07:26,140 Speaker 3: I don't mean manic, but up. Now do you think 101 00:07:26,180 --> 00:07:29,700 Speaker 3: that at every single show that I've ever given, There's 102 00:07:29,820 --> 00:07:32,900 Speaker 3: nothing been in my life that has been sad. There 103 00:07:32,940 --> 00:07:35,620 Speaker 3: is no event that has troubled me or angered me 104 00:07:36,060 --> 00:07:38,980 Speaker 3: in the world or in my personal life that can 105 00:07:39,020 --> 00:07:41,780 Speaker 3: make me down. But I can't do that. I can't 106 00:07:41,780 --> 00:07:43,980 Speaker 3: get on the radio and folks, you know it's really 107 00:07:45,380 --> 00:07:47,580 Speaker 3: I'm in a lousy mood today, I just, you know, 108 00:07:48,540 --> 00:07:55,660 Speaker 3: I don't feel like talking. It's it's actually funny to 109 00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:59,820 Speaker 3: imagine I'm a talk show host, but I just don't 110 00:07:59,940 --> 00:08:04,500 Speaker 3: feel like talking today. Now there are days I don't 111 00:08:04,500 --> 00:08:07,020 Speaker 3: feel like it, but somehow or other, you know, what 112 00:08:07,140 --> 00:08:11,180 Speaker 3: happens within a few minutes of the show. I'm back 113 00:08:11,260 --> 00:08:15,580 Speaker 3: up again because I had to be. By the way, 114 00:08:15,620 --> 00:08:18,060 Speaker 3: that's true for everybody. Do you ever notice you're very, 115 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:21,220 Speaker 3: very unhappy and then all of a sudden phone rings 116 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:23,180 Speaker 3: and you pick it up and Hi, how you doing? 117 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:28,100 Speaker 3: Somehow you were able to act normal. Somebody comes to 118 00:08:28,140 --> 00:08:31,540 Speaker 3: the door, and though you were in a fit of fury, 119 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:35,580 Speaker 3: you are now capable of controlling yourself and acting perfectly 120 00:08:35,660 --> 00:08:42,300 Speaker 3: civil and calm. Hey, folks, that's exactly right. And that's 121 00:08:42,340 --> 00:08:44,420 Speaker 3: the way we should look at our lives. That we 122 00:08:44,620 --> 00:08:46,980 Speaker 3: have to just like we have to answer the phone 123 00:08:47,059 --> 00:08:51,780 Speaker 3: or answer the doorbell in a certain frame of mind. 124 00:08:52,540 --> 00:08:54,260 Speaker 3: That's how we have to go through life. 125 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:54,740 Speaker 2: Generally. 126 00:08:56,179 --> 00:09:00,540 Speaker 3: It is life is too short to be unhappy. It comes, 127 00:09:00,620 --> 00:09:03,620 Speaker 3: it goes bye bye. Do you want on your tombstone? 128 00:09:03,660 --> 00:09:05,140 Speaker 3: So and so gave in you See, this is what 129 00:09:05,220 --> 00:09:10,179 Speaker 3: I realized when I was a teenager. I always point 130 00:09:10,220 --> 00:09:14,339 Speaker 3: to this because it was an absolute moment of what 131 00:09:14,380 --> 00:09:19,740 Speaker 3: they call epiphany, a startling realization. I was sitting on 132 00:09:19,780 --> 00:09:21,780 Speaker 3: the New York subway. I grew up in New York City. 133 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:25,699 Speaker 3: It's coming back to my home late at night from Manhattan, 134 00:09:27,140 --> 00:09:30,620 Speaker 3: and I had teenage angst and the thought hit me 135 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:32,780 Speaker 3: and it was a gift from God, I really believe, 136 00:09:33,380 --> 00:09:35,460 Speaker 3: because teenagers don't usually think this way. 137 00:09:36,460 --> 00:09:40,940 Speaker 2: And that thought was, you know, Dennis, it's pretty easy 138 00:09:40,980 --> 00:09:46,460 Speaker 2: to be unhappy. Any jerk can be unhappy. The trick 139 00:09:46,980 --> 00:09:47,819 Speaker 2: is to be happy. 140 00:09:48,020 --> 00:09:50,660 Speaker 3: It's a trick, not a trick in the sense of 141 00:09:51,060 --> 00:09:56,860 Speaker 3: it's deceptive, but that's the what's the better word than trick, 142 00:09:57,020 --> 00:10:01,580 Speaker 3: that's the aim. That's the goal, is to figure out 143 00:10:01,820 --> 00:10:05,300 Speaker 3: how to do that, because it doesn't come on its own. 144 00:10:05,300 --> 00:10:07,820 Speaker 3: That there are people who are just naturally happy, that's 145 00:10:07,860 --> 00:10:10,300 Speaker 3: the way they're made. They're very lucky, and people are 146 00:10:10,340 --> 00:10:13,620 Speaker 3: lucky who are around them, But the vast majority of 147 00:10:13,660 --> 00:10:15,939 Speaker 3: us have to work on it and it's a decision 148 00:10:16,460 --> 00:10:23,980 Speaker 3: that is made. That is my subject for this Happiness Hour. 149 00:10:25,060 --> 00:10:29,020 Speaker 3: If you are waiting or allowing life to determine whether 150 00:10:29,060 --> 00:10:34,020 Speaker 3: you're happy, you're doomed. You're doomed because there is just 151 00:10:34,179 --> 00:10:38,260 Speaker 3: not enough good by and large to happen so regularly 152 00:10:38,580 --> 00:10:41,900 Speaker 3: as to keep you in perpetual happiness. No matter how 153 00:10:42,020 --> 00:10:45,860 Speaker 3: terrific your life is, you are going to have to 154 00:10:45,900 --> 00:10:50,620 Speaker 3: figure out a way to say, listen, I don't have 155 00:10:50,780 --> 00:10:53,180 Speaker 3: enough time to waste on unhappiness. 156 00:10:53,740 --> 00:10:55,620 Speaker 2: And you've got to work on it. And you decide 157 00:10:55,740 --> 00:10:56,180 Speaker 2: to do it. 158 00:10:56,220 --> 00:10:59,460 Speaker 3: And the first decision is to act it. Yes, to 159 00:10:59,620 --> 00:11:02,500 Speaker 3: act it like I have to for every show, even 160 00:11:02,540 --> 00:11:05,620 Speaker 3: if on any given day I'm in a grunchy mood, 161 00:11:06,020 --> 00:11:08,940 Speaker 3: whatever grunchy means back in a moment one eight prayer 162 00:11:09,060 --> 00:11:09,940 Speaker 3: seven seven six. 163 00:11:11,380 --> 00:11:14,700 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 164 00:11:20,220 --> 00:11:23,980 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. 165 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:30,260 Speaker 3: Hey, yeah, i'llow if there is then confession Dennis Prager. Here, 166 00:11:32,179 --> 00:11:35,060 Speaker 3: this is the Happiness Hour. Every week. Subject is happiness 167 00:11:35,060 --> 00:11:40,500 Speaker 3: for this hour. It's a very important subject. It's critical. 168 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:41,700 Speaker 2: You know. 169 00:11:41,980 --> 00:11:43,740 Speaker 3: I have said this a number of times. It always 170 00:11:43,780 --> 00:11:47,700 Speaker 3: bears repeating as I get older. I respect people who 171 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,380 Speaker 3: are whom I meet who are happy. I respect them 172 00:11:50,420 --> 00:11:55,100 Speaker 3: for their happiness. Yes, I respect them for To me, 173 00:11:55,380 --> 00:11:59,060 Speaker 3: it is an achievement, just as you would respect somebody 174 00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,780 Speaker 3: who would achieve something else at that at a at 175 00:12:01,820 --> 00:12:04,260 Speaker 3: a at a given age in life, in fact, any 176 00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:06,820 Speaker 3: age of person that I meet, because it's there. 177 00:12:06,900 --> 00:12:08,020 Speaker 2: It's hard to be happy. 178 00:12:08,140 --> 00:12:10,660 Speaker 3: And you're a teenager, it's hard in your twenties, your thirties, 179 00:12:10,700 --> 00:12:14,620 Speaker 3: your forties, fifty sixty, seventies, eighties, nineties, Every every era 180 00:12:14,740 --> 00:12:17,420 Speaker 3: has a reason not to be happy. Well, you're a teenager, 181 00:12:17,460 --> 00:12:20,300 Speaker 3: it's angst. You're just leaving the nest, and you know, 182 00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:23,220 Speaker 3: like is confusing. You're in your twenties. You don't know 183 00:12:23,260 --> 00:12:24,980 Speaker 3: what you're going to do with your life. You know what, 184 00:12:25,620 --> 00:12:29,540 Speaker 3: you don't know where it's headed, what you do professionally, 185 00:12:29,580 --> 00:12:32,380 Speaker 3: what you do merrily. You're in your thirties, you're establishing 186 00:12:32,420 --> 00:12:35,940 Speaker 3: a home, hopefully, and the beginnings of that are very, 187 00:12:36,179 --> 00:12:40,140 Speaker 3: very fraught with confusion and so on. In your forties 188 00:12:40,179 --> 00:12:43,100 Speaker 3: and fifties, you go into midlife crisis. In your sixties, 189 00:12:43,140 --> 00:12:45,900 Speaker 3: oh my god, life is hastening on here and the 190 00:12:45,980 --> 00:12:47,860 Speaker 3: kids are out and now it's an empty nest and 191 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:50,900 Speaker 3: what's with my marriage? And seventies, oh my god, I'm 192 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:57,420 Speaker 3: getting old. Every age has a reason inherent to it 193 00:12:57,660 --> 00:13:02,100 Speaker 3: to be unhappy. My point on this hour is happiness 194 00:13:02,300 --> 00:13:06,300 Speaker 3: is overwhelmingly a decision. You decide to be it and 195 00:13:06,340 --> 00:13:08,780 Speaker 3: you follow it. It's like if you decide to work out, 196 00:13:09,460 --> 00:13:12,060 Speaker 3: it doesn't come naturally to work out. There are certain people, 197 00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:14,740 Speaker 3: by the way, again, the analogy is almost perfect. There 198 00:13:14,740 --> 00:13:18,340 Speaker 3: are certain people who work out naturally, Certain people like 199 00:13:18,420 --> 00:13:23,220 Speaker 3: me who work out because I force myself to. I 200 00:13:23,420 --> 00:13:29,660 Speaker 3: rather sit than do push ups. Okay, personally that's my preference, 201 00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:34,540 Speaker 3: but I go and uh, and I do it because 202 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:38,300 Speaker 3: it's a decision that I had made as I as 203 00:13:38,380 --> 00:13:40,580 Speaker 3: I believe one should make a decision to be happy, 204 00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:42,100 Speaker 3: and then you work at it. And that's why I 205 00:13:42,140 --> 00:13:44,860 Speaker 3: try to help you each week and with my book. Okay, 206 00:13:44,980 --> 00:13:48,140 Speaker 3: let's go here too. Your calls who the better? Is 207 00:13:48,179 --> 00:13:52,220 Speaker 3: that the debate because you've created conflict. There we go. 208 00:13:52,340 --> 00:13:58,540 Speaker 3: Let's go to Denver seven to ten km us and Todd. Hello, Todd, 209 00:13:58,540 --> 00:13:59,500 Speaker 3: Dennis Prager. 210 00:13:59,940 --> 00:14:01,620 Speaker 4: Hi, Dennis. First of all, thanks for your show. 211 00:14:01,780 --> 00:14:05,140 Speaker 3: Thank you appreciate it a lot. 212 00:14:05,300 --> 00:14:07,700 Speaker 4: It just seemed like a contradiction in terms when you 213 00:14:07,780 --> 00:14:14,220 Speaker 4: said that happiness is tied to happenings, which in the 214 00:14:14,220 --> 00:14:16,660 Speaker 4: Greek it is, and. 215 00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:18,740 Speaker 2: Oh I said it. I said it shouldn't be. 216 00:14:20,980 --> 00:14:22,300 Speaker 4: The general perception is that. 217 00:14:22,380 --> 00:14:25,500 Speaker 2: Yes, the general perception is happening. Yes. 218 00:14:25,940 --> 00:14:29,340 Speaker 4: And then you turn around and say to choose happiness, 219 00:14:29,380 --> 00:14:33,820 Speaker 4: which in effect is saying, choose your surroundings. And I 220 00:14:33,820 --> 00:14:35,260 Speaker 4: would I would just wait, wait, wait. 221 00:14:35,140 --> 00:14:37,380 Speaker 2: Wait, effect wait, choose your surroundings. 222 00:14:37,820 --> 00:14:41,340 Speaker 4: Well if if your happiness is being defined as a 223 00:14:41,340 --> 00:14:45,980 Speaker 4: state of mind, yes, and you're tying that to what's 224 00:14:46,020 --> 00:14:46,900 Speaker 4: going on around. 225 00:14:46,740 --> 00:14:48,740 Speaker 2: You, but I'm not. That was my whole point, not 226 00:14:48,780 --> 00:14:50,140 Speaker 2: to tie it around that. 227 00:14:51,340 --> 00:14:53,140 Speaker 4: I would change the word to joy. 228 00:14:53,340 --> 00:14:57,060 Speaker 3: No, no, no, okay, let me explain all right, that's fine, 229 00:14:57,060 --> 00:14:59,900 Speaker 3: Then choose joy. Let me explain something. Thank you, Todd. 230 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:02,940 Speaker 3: I don't care, folks. I have never and I write 231 00:15:02,980 --> 00:15:08,780 Speaker 3: this in my book, I have never argued a nanosecond 232 00:15:09,140 --> 00:15:13,100 Speaker 3: over what word you use, because there is no scientific 233 00:15:13,180 --> 00:15:17,460 Speaker 3: definition to happiness or to joy, or to contentment, or 234 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:20,380 Speaker 3: to whatever other word you wish to use. Pleasure, well, pleasure, 235 00:15:20,380 --> 00:15:24,020 Speaker 3: I guess is somewhat different. If Todd, if it helps 236 00:15:24,060 --> 00:15:27,180 Speaker 3: you for joy, choose joy, fine with me. I have 237 00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:30,900 Speaker 3: no argument. I don't want to lose my point here. 238 00:15:31,220 --> 00:15:35,460 Speaker 3: My point is, we determine to a large extent, whether 239 00:15:35,540 --> 00:15:39,060 Speaker 3: we are going to be happy. You can't let life's 240 00:15:39,140 --> 00:15:42,500 Speaker 3: happenings determine it for you. That's my point. You want 241 00:15:42,500 --> 00:15:47,700 Speaker 3: to say joy, happily say joy. Okay, let's go to 242 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:52,020 Speaker 3: Renee in Tucson, Arizona on kV O. I tell her Renee, 243 00:15:52,020 --> 00:15:52,740 Speaker 3: thanks for calling. 244 00:15:53,780 --> 00:15:54,900 Speaker 4: Thank you so much for your show. 245 00:15:55,060 --> 00:15:58,700 Speaker 5: You bet in response to that last caller, you know, 246 00:15:58,820 --> 00:16:00,820 Speaker 5: we aren't. We can't do anything about the things that. 247 00:16:00,780 --> 00:16:01,420 Speaker 6: Happened to us. 248 00:16:01,420 --> 00:16:03,860 Speaker 5: So we have every set of control over the over 249 00:16:03,860 --> 00:16:05,820 Speaker 5: the way we react to things that happened to us. 250 00:16:06,020 --> 00:16:08,540 Speaker 5: And I think that when people continue to choose to 251 00:16:09,380 --> 00:16:12,780 Speaker 5: stumble over the obstacles called unhappiness, we fall into the 252 00:16:12,780 --> 00:16:15,980 Speaker 5: pits of misery and miss all of the great blessings 253 00:16:16,020 --> 00:16:18,060 Speaker 5: that the Creator has for us. 254 00:16:18,580 --> 00:16:18,820 Speaker 2: Yeah. 255 00:16:18,860 --> 00:16:22,380 Speaker 3: Well, I didn't get the line before the mist the 256 00:16:22,460 --> 00:16:23,500 Speaker 3: blessings of the Creator? 257 00:16:23,540 --> 00:16:24,500 Speaker 2: While was that line? 258 00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:26,740 Speaker 3: I think that when we yeh that's clearer to me. 259 00:16:26,820 --> 00:16:31,140 Speaker 5: Yeah, go on, we fall over the obtacles of unhappiness 260 00:16:31,140 --> 00:16:32,700 Speaker 5: in our life, we just trip. 261 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:33,580 Speaker 7: Into the pit of Oh. 262 00:16:33,660 --> 00:16:35,980 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's exactly my point. I agree with you. You're 263 00:16:36,020 --> 00:16:38,460 Speaker 3: just saying it even in a more poetic way. That's correct, 264 00:16:38,580 --> 00:16:42,020 Speaker 3: That's exactly right. It is very easy to fall into 265 00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:44,380 Speaker 3: those pits because they're all around. That's why I name 266 00:16:44,460 --> 00:16:47,460 Speaker 3: my book Happiness is a serious problem. It is amen, 267 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:50,700 Speaker 3: absolutely amen to you. Thank you so much, appreciate that. 268 00:16:50,820 --> 00:16:53,620 Speaker 3: Let's go to Alisa in Los Angeles on eight seventy 269 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:55,580 Speaker 3: k r l A. The phone number is one eight 270 00:16:56,020 --> 00:16:58,340 Speaker 3: Praeger seven seven six. 271 00:16:58,860 --> 00:17:01,900 Speaker 2: Hello Alisa, Hi, Hi, thanks for taking my call. Thanks 272 00:17:01,940 --> 00:17:02,380 Speaker 2: for calling. 273 00:17:02,860 --> 00:17:06,179 Speaker 8: The reason I called was because I generally think that 274 00:17:06,220 --> 00:17:09,980 Speaker 8: I'm a happy person. But as you have mentioned before, 275 00:17:11,100 --> 00:17:14,140 Speaker 8: when you have kids, it really takes a toll on 276 00:17:14,179 --> 00:17:16,619 Speaker 8: your patients. And I really find that I have to 277 00:17:17,820 --> 00:17:23,380 Speaker 8: dig way deep down sometimes just to try to not 278 00:17:23,379 --> 00:17:25,619 Speaker 8: put on the happy face but speak to my kids 279 00:17:25,619 --> 00:17:28,459 Speaker 8: in a way that's going to make them feel good 280 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:31,459 Speaker 8: that they're not feeling put down. It's just a constant 281 00:17:31,659 --> 00:17:32,060 Speaker 8: that's right. 282 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:32,339 Speaker 2: It is. 283 00:17:32,379 --> 00:17:35,259 Speaker 3: It's a constant battle, Yes, it is. Life is a 284 00:17:35,260 --> 00:17:37,780 Speaker 3: constant battle, and people don't want to battle. That's why 285 00:17:37,820 --> 00:17:40,019 Speaker 3: they watch seven hours of television to day. There's no 286 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:44,419 Speaker 3: battle there. They have surrendered. Life is a battle. It's 287 00:17:44,419 --> 00:17:47,819 Speaker 3: Dennis versus life, and I want to win. That's how 288 00:17:47,859 --> 00:17:48,459 Speaker 3: I look at it. 289 00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:51,020 Speaker 8: Well, all the things that you said about happiness has 290 00:17:51,060 --> 00:17:55,459 Speaker 8: really helped me to stay focused. And I'm not always successful. 291 00:17:55,540 --> 00:17:58,259 Speaker 3: But I trust nobody is Alisa, if it'll help you 292 00:17:58,260 --> 00:18:00,899 Speaker 3: at all, neither am I okay, thank you so much. 293 00:18:01,459 --> 00:18:03,899 Speaker 3: She's right though, That's the point you have to know. See, 294 00:18:03,899 --> 00:18:07,219 Speaker 3: if you know this in advance, then you can really 295 00:18:07,780 --> 00:18:10,699 Speaker 3: grapple with it. The problem is expectations, which is another 296 00:18:10,780 --> 00:18:15,019 Speaker 3: chapter in my book. Expectations cause unhappiness. You get married, 297 00:18:15,139 --> 00:18:19,820 Speaker 3: you expect, and it's almost inevitable, especially in first marriages. 298 00:18:20,260 --> 00:18:25,899 Speaker 3: People assume, subconsciously or consciously, this person will fix me up. 299 00:18:26,580 --> 00:18:31,060 Speaker 3: I have real issues with happiness, but this person will 300 00:18:31,139 --> 00:18:34,980 Speaker 3: fill all my needs. This woman, she will be everything, 301 00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:41,100 Speaker 3: my lover, my companion, my mother, my everything. This guy, 302 00:18:41,219 --> 00:18:43,500 Speaker 3: he will be my knight in shining armor. He will 303 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:47,139 Speaker 3: rescue me. He will take me away from my awful 304 00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:50,939 Speaker 3: battles with my own self and my moodiness, or my 305 00:18:51,060 --> 00:18:56,219 Speaker 3: mother or whatever it is. We have expectations. This job, 306 00:18:56,300 --> 00:19:00,619 Speaker 3: this will make me happy. Every job makes you happy 307 00:19:00,699 --> 00:19:05,699 Speaker 3: and unhappy if you let it. Every family has issues. 308 00:19:05,739 --> 00:19:08,540 Speaker 3: It is tough to have children. It is a blessing 309 00:19:08,619 --> 00:19:11,739 Speaker 3: to have children. It is tough to be married. It 310 00:19:11,780 --> 00:19:14,139 Speaker 3: is a blessing to be married. It is tough to 311 00:19:14,179 --> 00:19:17,139 Speaker 3: be single. It's not so much a blessing unless you 312 00:19:17,340 --> 00:19:19,299 Speaker 3: decide to make it a blessing, which I think you 313 00:19:19,379 --> 00:19:23,459 Speaker 3: should if you have been married, or if you just 314 00:19:23,540 --> 00:19:26,179 Speaker 3: can't get married for whatever reason. Of course, you should 315 00:19:26,179 --> 00:19:28,619 Speaker 3: always find blessings in your state. I agree with that. 316 00:19:29,500 --> 00:19:31,580 Speaker 3: I think it is better to marry, but you must 317 00:19:31,619 --> 00:19:35,900 Speaker 3: find blessedness in your current state as well. I absolutely 318 00:19:35,939 --> 00:19:39,300 Speaker 3: believe that we will be back in a moment. Take 319 00:19:39,379 --> 00:19:42,779 Speaker 3: more of your calls. The decision to be happy is 320 00:19:42,820 --> 00:19:45,899 Speaker 3: the subject on this Happiness Hour. That's what I try 321 00:19:45,939 --> 00:19:48,940 Speaker 3: to help you do each week. Is once you make 322 00:19:48,979 --> 00:19:51,939 Speaker 3: that decision, hey, here are ways to go about it. 323 00:19:52,060 --> 00:19:53,579 Speaker 2: Back in a moment. I'm Dennis Prager. 324 00:19:56,260 --> 00:19:59,619 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 325 00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:10,540 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom. 326 00:20:10,899 --> 00:20:14,459 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Dennis Praguer Show, and specifically to 327 00:20:14,659 --> 00:20:18,099 Speaker 2: the weekly hour that I devote to the subject of 328 00:20:18,179 --> 00:20:20,139 Speaker 2: happiness because it's so important. 329 00:20:23,139 --> 00:20:26,419 Speaker 3: One Age Praguer seven seven six, or you can email 330 00:20:26,540 --> 00:20:31,499 Speaker 3: me through my website. Dennis Praguer dot com. And the 331 00:20:32,580 --> 00:20:37,340 Speaker 3: trick here is that is here meaning and attaining happiness. 332 00:20:37,419 --> 00:20:41,939 Speaker 3: It's a decision. It is natural think of a child. 333 00:20:41,979 --> 00:20:44,179 Speaker 3: If any of you have children, you know how true 334 00:20:44,219 --> 00:20:47,019 Speaker 3: this is. Your children are happy or unhappy based on 335 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:51,219 Speaker 3: what happened in the last two minutes. We are all 336 00:20:51,419 --> 00:20:56,700 Speaker 3: children unless we decide to grow up. Hey, Alan Mann, 337 00:20:56,739 --> 00:21:00,060 Speaker 3: there's a line for the lines to keep. That's true. 338 00:21:00,939 --> 00:21:03,539 Speaker 3: We are all children unless we decide to grow up. 339 00:21:03,580 --> 00:21:07,139 Speaker 3: You know when I I used to talk to college students. 340 00:21:07,179 --> 00:21:10,700 Speaker 3: I still go to colleges, but I used to have 341 00:21:10,780 --> 00:21:13,979 Speaker 3: a program where college students came for a month at 342 00:21:13,979 --> 00:21:17,340 Speaker 3: a time at an institute I used to be director of, 343 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:19,299 Speaker 3: and I would tell them this. I'd say, you know, 344 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:21,899 Speaker 3: you think because I remember remember thinking this. You think 345 00:21:21,939 --> 00:21:24,700 Speaker 3: that at a certain age you automatically become an adult. 346 00:21:30,260 --> 00:21:34,979 Speaker 3: Not true. You decide at some age to become an adult. 347 00:21:35,020 --> 00:21:38,340 Speaker 3: You might have decided at fifteen, by the way, you 348 00:21:38,459 --> 00:21:40,580 Speaker 3: might not decide until fifty. You may never decide it. 349 00:21:40,659 --> 00:21:45,020 Speaker 3: You may want to be a child, immature, cranky. You know, 350 00:21:45,219 --> 00:21:50,859 Speaker 3: let your emotions guide you, and emotions are very powerful, 351 00:21:51,020 --> 00:21:53,300 Speaker 3: but we have to be guided by our mind. Our 352 00:21:53,340 --> 00:21:57,139 Speaker 3: mind must take our emotions into account obviously, otherwise we're 353 00:21:57,179 --> 00:22:05,060 Speaker 3: not a human. You decide to be happy, not let 354 00:22:05,219 --> 00:22:07,540 Speaker 3: the events of the moment take you over. Look, let's 355 00:22:07,540 --> 00:22:12,220 Speaker 3: be honest. Two people lose a wallet. Losing a wallet stinks, stinks. 356 00:22:12,260 --> 00:22:16,300 Speaker 3: It's probably better to have your car stolen, because every 357 00:22:16,379 --> 00:22:17,779 Speaker 3: you know, a car is replaceable. 358 00:22:17,820 --> 00:22:20,619 Speaker 2: But the stuff and stuff in my wallet's not replaceable. 359 00:22:22,540 --> 00:22:26,739 Speaker 3: But two people lose their wallets, One is in a 360 00:22:26,859 --> 00:22:30,219 Speaker 3: funk for a week. One gets over it much sooner. 361 00:22:30,859 --> 00:22:34,540 Speaker 3: It's a decision. It doesn't just happen naturally. You've got 362 00:22:34,540 --> 00:22:37,100 Speaker 3: to be able to say, okay, I gotta move on. 363 00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:38,859 Speaker 2: All right. 364 00:22:39,139 --> 00:22:45,700 Speaker 3: Anyway, decision is my point here. And let's go to 365 00:22:45,859 --> 00:22:52,260 Speaker 3: Cleveland and one thousand WCCD and Herschel. Hello, Herschel, Dennis Prager. 366 00:22:52,419 --> 00:22:53,340 Speaker 9: Hi, Dennis, how are you? 367 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:54,379 Speaker 2: I'm well? Thank you? 368 00:22:54,859 --> 00:23:00,259 Speaker 9: Okay. I believe I have amazing biblical and scriptural proof 369 00:23:00,739 --> 00:23:03,820 Speaker 9: that happiness is a state of mind and a decision. 370 00:23:03,859 --> 00:23:07,619 Speaker 9: As you say, cool, this is the evidence. In Psalm 371 00:23:07,619 --> 00:23:12,819 Speaker 9: one hundred, line two, it says serve God with happiness. 372 00:23:13,100 --> 00:23:15,379 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's the motto of the Kabbad Hassinim. 373 00:23:15,699 --> 00:23:17,499 Speaker 9: That's right. That's and I'm a part of. 374 00:23:17,540 --> 00:23:20,660 Speaker 2: Kabbad ahhad do I know my callers. 375 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:23,499 Speaker 9: Go ahead to serve God with happiness. 376 00:23:23,619 --> 00:23:24,179 Speaker 2: Yeah. 377 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:27,179 Speaker 9: Right now, if you change the letters the five letters 378 00:23:27,179 --> 00:23:31,419 Speaker 9: of happiness, the order of the letters, you get the word, 379 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:35,379 Speaker 9: the Hebrew word makshava, which is the Hebrew word as 380 00:23:35,379 --> 00:23:35,700 Speaker 9: you know. 381 00:23:36,260 --> 00:23:38,139 Speaker 2: For thought, thought thought. 382 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:40,859 Speaker 9: Yeah, so that's proof I believe. 383 00:23:40,699 --> 00:23:43,619 Speaker 3: Really so the wait, so if you add up people 384 00:23:43,619 --> 00:23:47,179 Speaker 3: who don't know this, Hebrew letters are also numbers matria. 385 00:23:47,260 --> 00:23:48,659 Speaker 9: It's just changing the order of them. 386 00:23:48,780 --> 00:23:54,100 Speaker 3: Oh, changing the order right, Oh, bissimha and makshava. 387 00:23:53,820 --> 00:23:56,500 Speaker 9: Are the same five letters, just changed around. 388 00:23:56,699 --> 00:23:58,979 Speaker 3: All right, let me explain that to everybody. Thank you 389 00:23:59,060 --> 00:24:02,819 Speaker 3: so much. That's fascinating. If you just change the letters around, 390 00:24:02,859 --> 00:24:04,499 Speaker 3: I mean, it is fascinating. I don't know if it 391 00:24:04,580 --> 00:24:08,179 Speaker 3: is meant, but it might be that the Biblical Hebrew 392 00:24:08,179 --> 00:24:12,780 Speaker 3: word for thought and for and for happiness, and also 393 00:24:12,899 --> 00:24:16,340 Speaker 3: modern Hebrew. If you just rearrange the letters, they come 394 00:24:16,379 --> 00:24:19,980 Speaker 3: out the same. They're they're the same letters. That's fascinating. 395 00:24:20,260 --> 00:24:23,379 Speaker 2: I like that stuff. Thank you very much. Of course. 396 00:24:23,419 --> 00:24:27,259 Speaker 3: You know, see, for those who believe Biblical Hebrew has 397 00:24:27,300 --> 00:24:31,460 Speaker 3: some real esoteric meanings, and I do believe that that's fine. 398 00:24:31,699 --> 00:24:34,139 Speaker 3: Otherwise you end up with the problem like God backwards 399 00:24:34,139 --> 00:24:36,540 Speaker 3: his dog, and I don't think that that means much, 400 00:24:36,939 --> 00:24:39,619 Speaker 3: you know. So it's it's but I do believe in 401 00:24:39,659 --> 00:24:41,499 Speaker 3: this case that there might be something to it. 402 00:24:41,540 --> 00:24:42,139 Speaker 2: I really do. 403 00:24:42,899 --> 00:24:48,859 Speaker 3: Alrighty, let's go to Lakeside, California and Sally Sally Dennis Prager. 404 00:24:48,580 --> 00:24:51,019 Speaker 6: Hi, good morning, Dennis. Is a pleasure to talk to you. 405 00:24:51,139 --> 00:24:52,020 Speaker 2: It is my pleasure. 406 00:24:52,179 --> 00:24:55,779 Speaker 6: Thank you. I just read your Manual for a Human 407 00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:56,939 Speaker 6: Nature Repair. 408 00:24:57,060 --> 00:24:57,220 Speaker 2: Oh. 409 00:24:57,260 --> 00:24:59,979 Speaker 3: In other words, my happiness is a serious problem. Yes, 410 00:25:00,060 --> 00:25:00,379 Speaker 3: thank you. 411 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:02,899 Speaker 6: I had to juggle through it though it was so 412 00:25:03,139 --> 00:25:05,499 Speaker 6: it was funny, you know. I like your insights and 413 00:25:05,580 --> 00:25:07,340 Speaker 6: with jealous Yeah. 414 00:25:07,340 --> 00:25:09,859 Speaker 3: It's subtitled the Human Nature Repair Manual. 415 00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:13,179 Speaker 2: That's true. I never note that, but it's true. Yeah, yeah, 416 00:25:13,179 --> 00:25:13,580 Speaker 2: I like that. 417 00:25:13,939 --> 00:25:17,619 Speaker 6: But anyway, I was thinking it's funny. Right before you 418 00:25:17,659 --> 00:25:20,899 Speaker 6: started the segment, you mentioned what Lincoln had said, and 419 00:25:20,939 --> 00:25:22,820 Speaker 6: I had written that in a book for myself a 420 00:25:22,899 --> 00:25:25,260 Speaker 6: number of years ago to remind me and the way 421 00:25:25,459 --> 00:25:28,539 Speaker 6: I read it before his quote, he says, folks are 422 00:25:28,619 --> 00:25:30,219 Speaker 6: as happy as they make up their minds. 423 00:25:30,260 --> 00:25:31,699 Speaker 2: To me, that's it. Bless you. 424 00:25:31,899 --> 00:25:38,100 Speaker 3: Thank you back in a moment, Dennis Prager here, and 425 00:25:38,179 --> 00:25:41,780 Speaker 3: thanks for being with me. The happiness hour a basic 426 00:25:41,979 --> 00:25:45,459 Speaker 3: basic notion, and the subject of happiness is that you 427 00:25:45,580 --> 00:25:48,259 Speaker 3: decide to thank you for the last correction on the 428 00:25:48,300 --> 00:25:52,899 Speaker 3: Abraham Lincoln quote. And if you want to email me 429 00:25:52,939 --> 00:25:56,019 Speaker 3: that I'll really be able to recite it accurately each time. 430 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:59,059 Speaker 2: It's a very important one. Folks are as happy as 431 00:25:59,060 --> 00:26:01,780 Speaker 2: they decide as they decide to be, or something very 432 00:26:01,780 --> 00:26:02,420 Speaker 2: close to that. 433 00:26:02,459 --> 00:26:05,979 Speaker 3: It is absolutely correct, and that's my point that happiness 434 00:26:06,020 --> 00:26:11,340 Speaker 3: is a decision for the child. Happiness is determined by events. 435 00:26:11,379 --> 00:26:13,740 Speaker 3: So they're happy at two o'clock. At ten after they're 436 00:26:13,739 --> 00:26:17,259 Speaker 3: not two thirty, they are somewhat two forty, they're angry, 437 00:26:17,379 --> 00:26:17,820 Speaker 3: two point. 438 00:26:17,619 --> 00:26:19,979 Speaker 2: Fifty, they're depressed. At three o'clock they're happy again. 439 00:26:20,820 --> 00:26:22,659 Speaker 3: And that is the way we would be if we 440 00:26:22,780 --> 00:26:27,219 Speaker 3: allowed events solely to determine whether we're happy, which is 441 00:26:27,219 --> 00:26:28,100 Speaker 3: the way you are. 442 00:26:28,419 --> 00:26:29,899 Speaker 2: That's the way an animal is. 443 00:26:30,699 --> 00:26:33,659 Speaker 3: Your dog is happy when it's getting attention and getting food. 444 00:26:33,699 --> 00:26:34,659 Speaker 2: Otherwise that's it. 445 00:26:36,139 --> 00:26:38,899 Speaker 3: But where we are not animals, because we have a mind, 446 00:26:39,780 --> 00:26:42,499 Speaker 3: a mind that can determine. Hey, you know what I 447 00:26:42,540 --> 00:26:46,299 Speaker 3: am deciding to be happy because I cannot let life 448 00:26:47,459 --> 00:26:53,820 Speaker 3: life's events determine it for me. Minneapolis on the WWTC, 449 00:26:53,939 --> 00:26:58,340 Speaker 3: which is the Patriot Bratt? Is that correct? Hello? Bratt? 450 00:26:58,379 --> 00:27:01,580 Speaker 2: Is that your name? Bratt Brett? Yes, Brett? 451 00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:05,899 Speaker 3: Oh, I see I read it wrong because of my eyeglasses. 452 00:27:05,899 --> 00:27:06,979 Speaker 3: Actually it's Brett. 453 00:27:07,060 --> 00:27:08,060 Speaker 2: Hi, Brett. I'm sorry. 454 00:27:08,580 --> 00:27:13,740 Speaker 10: I've just really appreciated your comments. Just a short few notes. 455 00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:17,779 Speaker 10: I was unfortunate if my daughter was killed in a 456 00:27:17,859 --> 00:27:19,340 Speaker 10: car accident a few years ago. 457 00:27:19,780 --> 00:27:21,859 Speaker 2: My God, my heartbreaks for you. 458 00:27:21,939 --> 00:27:26,459 Speaker 10: Please know that, thank you, And I really believe that 459 00:27:26,500 --> 00:27:28,779 Speaker 10: what you're saying there is really what has kept me 460 00:27:28,939 --> 00:27:32,539 Speaker 10: and a lot of my family alive through that, just 461 00:27:32,580 --> 00:27:35,979 Speaker 10: in the sense that we make a choice every day 462 00:27:36,060 --> 00:27:40,059 Speaker 10: to get up and to either remember her in a 463 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:43,419 Speaker 10: positive light and the memories we have, or think of 464 00:27:43,459 --> 00:27:46,699 Speaker 10: her the casket or in a orge and allow depression 465 00:27:46,780 --> 00:27:52,340 Speaker 10: to literally consume your your entire day. So you basically 466 00:27:52,379 --> 00:27:54,179 Speaker 10: have to make that choice getting up. Am I going 467 00:27:54,260 --> 00:27:54,899 Speaker 10: to go forward? 468 00:27:55,020 --> 00:27:55,259 Speaker 7: For me? 469 00:27:55,379 --> 00:27:56,940 Speaker 2: And how do you know this? 470 00:27:58,580 --> 00:27:58,899 Speaker 4: I was? 471 00:27:59,219 --> 00:28:02,619 Speaker 10: I guess I've got a real strong Christian faith, and 472 00:28:04,139 --> 00:28:06,859 Speaker 10: part of it is that just the way I was raised. 473 00:28:06,899 --> 00:28:09,980 Speaker 10: Second of all sticking my nose in the Bible a lot. 474 00:28:10,659 --> 00:28:12,819 Speaker 10: The one Bible verse that comes to mind, and I 475 00:28:12,820 --> 00:28:15,419 Speaker 10: don't recall where it's at, was just talking about think 476 00:28:15,659 --> 00:28:19,060 Speaker 10: on these things, and these things were whatever is good 477 00:28:19,060 --> 00:28:21,540 Speaker 10: and the righteous, et cetera. And do we have the 478 00:28:21,659 --> 00:28:24,300 Speaker 10: choice to either think on those things or I can 479 00:28:24,379 --> 00:28:26,859 Speaker 10: think of all of the tragedy that went along with 480 00:28:26,899 --> 00:28:30,379 Speaker 10: the adventure. I can remember her and shaish those moments. 481 00:28:30,419 --> 00:28:34,179 Speaker 3: So that's very powerful. Was your wife able to do 482 00:28:34,260 --> 00:28:34,619 Speaker 3: this too? 483 00:28:35,580 --> 00:28:38,900 Speaker 10: Yes? And that's you know, and really we rely on 484 00:28:38,979 --> 00:28:42,420 Speaker 10: each other to help lift each other up, but at 485 00:28:42,420 --> 00:28:45,700 Speaker 10: the same time, you know, we all have our down selves. 486 00:28:45,780 --> 00:28:49,900 Speaker 10: That's for the most part, is identifying that that's where 487 00:28:49,900 --> 00:28:52,459 Speaker 10: you're at, and that I believe there's a lot of 488 00:28:53,100 --> 00:28:55,900 Speaker 10: spiritual negative that goes along with depression also, and. 489 00:28:55,900 --> 00:28:58,220 Speaker 2: Just identify that's right, that's very true. 490 00:28:58,660 --> 00:29:01,140 Speaker 10: But that's the valle you're in and you know you you. 491 00:29:01,260 --> 00:29:04,500 Speaker 3: I just want to say this to you. I have 492 00:29:04,660 --> 00:29:06,539 Speaker 3: long known this, but I need to I need to 493 00:29:06,580 --> 00:29:11,459 Speaker 3: say this publicly. There are the vast majority of heroes 494 00:29:11,620 --> 00:29:14,539 Speaker 3: in this world are not are not famous, but you 495 00:29:14,780 --> 00:29:20,100 Speaker 3: are heroic. And I mean that absolutely. From the depths 496 00:29:20,140 --> 00:29:25,900 Speaker 3: of my heart. You are your attempt at happiness, given 497 00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:29,019 Speaker 3: that you have suffered the greatest pain humans can suffer 498 00:29:29,060 --> 00:29:34,100 Speaker 3: the death of a child. He is a heroic act, 499 00:29:34,739 --> 00:29:37,739 Speaker 3: as heroic as as as any that we read about 500 00:29:37,739 --> 00:29:40,300 Speaker 3: in newspapers. And I salute you, and I and I 501 00:29:41,060 --> 00:29:43,219 Speaker 3: pray that you continue to be able to do so. 502 00:29:44,180 --> 00:29:49,739 Speaker 10: Thank you. Was just that. The other is if we 503 00:29:49,780 --> 00:29:52,660 Speaker 10: truly believe that there is another place that Heaven replace 504 00:29:52,860 --> 00:29:55,460 Speaker 10: and these people have the opportunity at times to look 505 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,660 Speaker 10: down upon us, be what would they be thinking in 506 00:29:59,100 --> 00:30:03,500 Speaker 10: seeing in this case her father doing nothing but grieving 507 00:30:03,580 --> 00:30:07,460 Speaker 10: versus going on and living life. So there's a lot 508 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:09,739 Speaker 10: of a lot of different things we can look at. 509 00:30:09,820 --> 00:30:12,819 Speaker 3: That's a very powerful argument as well. What would my 510 00:30:12,900 --> 00:30:16,140 Speaker 3: daughter want me to be doing? 511 00:30:15,380 --> 00:30:15,540 Speaker 2: Well? 512 00:30:16,700 --> 00:30:20,739 Speaker 10: And I truthfully believe wholeheartedly you certainly. 513 00:30:20,380 --> 00:30:22,059 Speaker 2: Do live by it. Thank you again. 514 00:30:22,979 --> 00:30:26,900 Speaker 3: Louisville, Kentucky and nine to seventy w GTK. By the way, 515 00:30:26,900 --> 00:30:31,420 Speaker 3: you folks in Louisville, I'm going to be in town 516 00:30:31,860 --> 00:30:36,620 Speaker 3: November two, so let's let's talk to the station and 517 00:30:36,860 --> 00:30:42,660 Speaker 3: meet you folks. Tim in tim And in Kentucky, how. 518 00:30:42,540 --> 00:30:46,060 Speaker 7: Are you, hello? Dennis got you and your show. 519 00:30:46,140 --> 00:30:47,339 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. 520 00:30:48,860 --> 00:30:51,340 Speaker 7: I tell you, this really hit me. I just spun 521 00:30:51,380 --> 00:30:54,259 Speaker 7: my head around when you said this that in my 522 00:30:54,340 --> 00:30:58,900 Speaker 7: line of work, I do a lot of lab results 523 00:30:59,180 --> 00:31:02,900 Speaker 7: for people who are very sick, and I have a 524 00:31:02,940 --> 00:31:05,940 Speaker 7: smile painted on my face. I've had that my entire life. 525 00:31:06,020 --> 00:31:09,820 Speaker 7: I've always been Oh, you know, he's got a great 526 00:31:09,860 --> 00:31:11,779 Speaker 7: sense of humor. And when people think you have a 527 00:31:11,820 --> 00:31:14,180 Speaker 7: good sense of humor and you have a smell on 528 00:31:14,219 --> 00:31:16,820 Speaker 7: your face, they think you're happy all the time. Well, 529 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:21,979 Speaker 7: I didn't realize to make that decision until one day 530 00:31:22,020 --> 00:31:24,460 Speaker 7: a lady said, you seem so happy all the time. 531 00:31:24,500 --> 00:31:26,979 Speaker 7: What is your secret? And I actually thought of you. 532 00:31:27,660 --> 00:31:31,499 Speaker 7: I thought of well, now happy, having a smile on 533 00:31:31,540 --> 00:31:32,940 Speaker 7: your face and being in a good mood and being 534 00:31:32,979 --> 00:31:37,300 Speaker 7: cordial and just being yourself Like that is a whole 535 00:31:37,459 --> 00:31:43,340 Speaker 7: different ball game than being happy. So I've turned, I've 536 00:31:43,340 --> 00:31:48,100 Speaker 7: decided to do some soul searching and realized, you know, 537 00:31:48,260 --> 00:31:51,140 Speaker 7: I'm not really far from being happy. But if I 538 00:31:51,219 --> 00:31:52,180 Speaker 7: practice at it. 539 00:31:52,580 --> 00:31:55,380 Speaker 2: That's right. And like, that's exactly right there. 540 00:31:55,500 --> 00:31:59,260 Speaker 7: Practice makes perfect, but only if it's perfect practice. So 541 00:31:59,660 --> 00:32:05,499 Speaker 7: he that between him, between he and your attitude. You know, 542 00:32:05,739 --> 00:32:09,900 Speaker 7: for this, I think I'm on the upside of making 543 00:32:09,940 --> 00:32:10,660 Speaker 7: myself happy. 544 00:32:10,900 --> 00:32:13,580 Speaker 3: Well, everybody else, you're very wise at thirty six. That 545 00:32:14,020 --> 00:32:19,579 Speaker 3: is exactly right. It is practice, and eventually the behavior 546 00:32:19,700 --> 00:32:24,660 Speaker 3: molds the feeling. We almost always think that feelings should 547 00:32:24,660 --> 00:32:27,580 Speaker 3: mold behavior, right, but it was one of the great 548 00:32:27,660 --> 00:32:30,380 Speaker 3: lessons of my life early on that it is in 549 00:32:30,380 --> 00:32:34,700 Speaker 3: fact behavior that far more often molds feelings. 550 00:32:35,739 --> 00:32:37,979 Speaker 2: You're great, tim Thank you sir. 551 00:32:38,219 --> 00:32:41,660 Speaker 3: Yes, you're welcome, very much. It really touches me. That's 552 00:32:41,739 --> 00:32:47,980 Speaker 3: exactly right. Act happy. You'll be happier for so many reasons, 553 00:32:48,020 --> 00:32:51,940 Speaker 3: not only because your behavior will change your mindset. As 554 00:32:51,940 --> 00:32:56,020 Speaker 3: an example, kids that were school uniforms act better in class. 555 00:32:56,260 --> 00:33:00,140 Speaker 3: Same kids, same class. Behavior is changed, the way they act, 556 00:33:01,540 --> 00:33:06,299 Speaker 3: the behavior change their insides. And there's another reason you 557 00:33:06,340 --> 00:33:08,180 Speaker 3: act happy, people will treat your nicer. 558 00:33:08,260 --> 00:33:10,019 Speaker 2: We'll be back in a moment. I'm Dennis Prager. 559 00:33:11,180 --> 00:33:14,499 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 560 00:33:20,020 --> 00:33:23,580 Speaker 1: No to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom. 561 00:33:25,660 --> 00:33:29,620 Speaker 3: All right, everybody, this is the final segment here of 562 00:33:29,660 --> 00:33:32,140 Speaker 3: this edition of the Happiness Hour. Don't go away because 563 00:33:32,180 --> 00:33:35,900 Speaker 3: we have more on the Dennis Praguer Show. But I 564 00:33:36,060 --> 00:33:39,940 Speaker 3: have offered to you what could be truly life changing 565 00:33:39,979 --> 00:33:45,340 Speaker 3: if you take it seriously. We make a terrible error 566 00:33:45,420 --> 00:33:49,739 Speaker 3: when we think that our happiness should rely, as it 567 00:33:49,860 --> 00:33:56,140 Speaker 3: naturally does, naturally does on events shaping our happiness. Happy 568 00:33:56,219 --> 00:34:00,620 Speaker 3: events make us happy. Unhappy events make us unhappy. But 569 00:34:00,739 --> 00:34:04,020 Speaker 3: if you can decide to be happy despite the events 570 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:07,260 Speaker 3: and not rely on the events, then happy events may 571 00:34:07,340 --> 00:34:11,739 Speaker 3: have a bigger impact. Although, of course what you do 572 00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:15,380 Speaker 3: is you have a certain equilibrium so that happy events 573 00:34:15,420 --> 00:34:17,980 Speaker 3: don't cause you ecstasy, because, by the way, when you 574 00:34:18,020 --> 00:34:21,020 Speaker 3: get ecstatic, you will get it depressed afterward. It's because 575 00:34:21,060 --> 00:34:23,940 Speaker 3: life seeks a balance, like water does. It seeks a 576 00:34:23,940 --> 00:34:26,700 Speaker 3: certain level. And did you ever notice you have a 577 00:34:26,739 --> 00:34:29,219 Speaker 3: great high from some event and then there is this 578 00:34:29,460 --> 00:34:32,899 Speaker 3: you know you have the equivalent down afterwards. It's very, 579 00:34:33,060 --> 00:34:36,820 Speaker 3: very common. I'm always afraid when super duper good things 580 00:34:36,859 --> 00:34:39,899 Speaker 3: happen because i know I'm going to probably sink a 581 00:34:40,020 --> 00:34:43,500 Speaker 3: day or two later. But if you make the decision 582 00:34:43,580 --> 00:34:47,740 Speaker 3: to be happy and act happy, then you can shape 583 00:34:47,819 --> 00:34:51,140 Speaker 3: the way you are because every one of us has 584 00:34:51,259 --> 00:34:56,180 Speaker 3: reasons to say I am unhappy, every single human being. 585 00:34:56,859 --> 00:35:00,540 Speaker 3: If everyone relied on life to shape whether or not 586 00:35:00,540 --> 00:35:04,060 Speaker 3: they're happy, they would be no happy people just the 587 00:35:04,100 --> 00:35:07,620 Speaker 3: way it is. Now, let me summarize some of your 588 00:35:07,660 --> 00:35:11,140 Speaker 3: calls because I can't get to them with the time remaining. 589 00:35:11,940 --> 00:35:15,779 Speaker 3: Paul says that the key to happiness is giving thanks gratitude. 590 00:35:15,819 --> 00:35:18,940 Speaker 3: It's exactly right. I write that in my book happiness 591 00:35:19,020 --> 00:35:22,219 Speaker 3: is a serious problem. Gratitude it is the secret that 592 00:35:22,380 --> 00:35:24,979 Speaker 3: is correct, be grateful for what you do have. 593 00:35:25,859 --> 00:35:27,299 Speaker 2: That is exactly right. 594 00:35:27,580 --> 00:35:30,739 Speaker 3: Gratitude is the secret not only to a happiness, but 595 00:35:30,779 --> 00:35:34,060 Speaker 3: it is also to goodness, which shows you how important 596 00:35:34,100 --> 00:35:38,779 Speaker 3: gratitude is. Grateful people are better people. Grateful people are 597 00:35:39,140 --> 00:35:42,379 Speaker 3: also happier people that By the way, I never bring 598 00:35:42,460 --> 00:35:45,219 Speaker 3: politics into the happiness hour, but I will say the 599 00:35:45,299 --> 00:35:56,219 Speaker 3: following that those who, for political gain try to breed unhappiness, complaints, 600 00:35:56,259 --> 00:36:02,020 Speaker 3: and resentment among segments of the population are guaranteeing an unhappy, 601 00:36:02,739 --> 00:36:08,379 Speaker 3: unhappy people, and a less good people. We should be 602 00:36:08,380 --> 00:36:12,060 Speaker 3: cultivating gratitude as much as we can. Of course, there 603 00:36:12,580 --> 00:36:16,140 Speaker 3: are areas where our society and where everybody can improve. 604 00:36:16,259 --> 00:36:17,420 Speaker 2: That goes without saying. 605 00:36:18,620 --> 00:36:21,140 Speaker 3: Doreen says, instead of enjoying the most moment, we look 606 00:36:21,180 --> 00:36:23,779 Speaker 3: to the future. When we'll be happy. That is exactly right. 607 00:36:23,819 --> 00:36:26,060 Speaker 3: But lo and behold, you know what happens. The years 608 00:36:26,100 --> 00:36:28,899 Speaker 3: go by and it didn't happen, and you waste it 609 00:36:28,940 --> 00:36:32,339 Speaker 3: all that time looking forward to getting happy. The time 610 00:36:32,420 --> 00:36:35,739 Speaker 3: to be happy is this minute. That is exactly right. 611 00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:40,419 Speaker 3: Not hedonism. That's pleasure and fun. They're nice, but they 612 00:36:40,420 --> 00:36:43,899 Speaker 3: don't make you happy. This has been the Happiness Hour 613 00:36:43,980 --> 00:36:46,779 Speaker 3: on the Dennis Prager Show. Make that decision and you 614 00:36:46,859 --> 00:36:49,180 Speaker 3: will be a grateful person that you heard this hour. 615 00:36:49,299 --> 00:36:51,540 Speaker 2: Don't go away. I'm Dennis Prager. 616 00:36:54,259 --> 00:36:58,580 Speaker 1: This has been timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit Dennisprager 617 00:36:58,620 --> 00:37:02,140 Speaker 1: dot com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses 618 00:37:02,180 --> 00:37:06,819 Speaker 1: in classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles.