Cheer or Cherophobia? Hmmm...

(Photo by Shyamjii)

“The pursuit of happiness” is an integral part of the American way.  It is also prevalent in many a Western culture.

However, not all people cherish cheer.  Some even cherish cherophobia (an intense fear of happiness).  They are taught from childhood on that happiness is a fragile state.  Now you

have it, now you don’t.  So when you have it, you might soon lose it.  The anticipation of losing it becomes so painful that you’d just as well do without it.

And then there's the sin factor.  Many are taught to believe that happiness leads to “sin, shallowness and moral decline.”  This is the flip side of the belief that suffering leads to salvation.  Both beliefs can be true, given the ups and downs of human nature.

The ability to remain centered within life’s peaks and valleys can therefore be an invaluable skill.  As Rudyard Kipling once wrote:  If you can meet with triumph and disaster  And treat these two imposters just the same…  Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it… [and/or everything that's beyond it, as the case may be].    

Resources

http://realuguru.com/life-coaching-game-theory-and-self-created suffering/?utm_source=LewCrew&utm_campaign=2f5cbfc916-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN+%2A%7CRSSFEED%3ADATE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6a1cc84490-2f5cbfc916-443608889

Copyright October 16, 2018 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved