After all, what is our real Environment? Most people would say, at once—the air, the building, the scenery, in which, and the people and paraphernalia among which, we happen to be at any time. And these are indeed part of our Environment.
But our true Environment is, first of all, the contents of our mind, and especially that part of the contents—whether memories or imaginations—to which we give most attention and interest; secondly, the Divine influence in which, whether we recognise it or not, we “live and move and have our being.”
And, chiefly, we live in whatever we think of or allow ourselves not to refuse as residents in our mind.
I have said little, in these few pages, about what are ordinarily regarded as Environmental helps. I rather wished to emphasise the importance of keeping happy, and of using such means as we had always or often with us. I could have written much about colours, music, books, friendship, and so on. But I had to leave unwritten far more than I have written here.
If these ideas help the reader to keep happy more consistently, less spasmodically, and more independently of outside conditions, they will have served their purpose.
Perhaps even the mere titles of some books may be of use towards this end—“All’s Right with the World,” “Just Be Glad,” and “Keep Happy.”
To keep happy means enjoyment and ease, peace and poise, health and fitness, during work-times and non-work times; it means more work and better work; it means better opportunities and openings for our activities in the future; it means better rest and sleep after work; it means constant, all-round improvement for oneself and others. It is, like Health, part of our duty towards God, our neighbour, and our self, and the myriads of cell-lives working within us.
A Concluding Suggestion
It is not a bad plan to make a point of writing down every day (in a note-book, or on slips of paper) some special reason why we should keep happy. Mr. Arthur Knight and I have done this regularly for many months, and have exchanged our records from time to time. The following are a few out of many of our reasons. They are not arranged in any particular order, but are put down just as we wrote them, from day to day. We recommend every reader to try the practice.
Keep Happy. When happiness is present, the petty things of life fail to disturb and poison us.
Keep Happy. This means living in the higher part of the mind, where the air and light and warmth are greater, and where all good things originate. Keep your thoughts in this happy region of yourself, and you will not only get the right ideas—the ideas that you really need—but you will draw other minds up to the same level.
Keep Happy. The more you insist on—and persist in—keeping happy, the more you will realise and be convinced how absolutely and progressively beneficial Happiness is.
Keep Happy, and the things that would, in the ordinary way, loom large and important, and upset our peace and poise, either fade into nothingness or else become obviously useful as training us to play the game of life.
If we would be at our best, in body, mind, and spirit, we must keep happy. Gloom and sorrow lessen our power to be our best and to do our best.
Keep Happy. There is nothing to be said against it. There is everything to be said in favour of it.
Keep Happy. Happiness is as much a duty towards God, our “Neighbours,” and ourselves, as is Purity or Kindness or any other Virtue, and Happiness makes every other Virtue easier and pleasanter.
However good a physical or mental “system” you may follow, and however many excellent rules you may obey as to diet or exercise, and so on, the rule “Keep Happy” is found to be a good addition to your daily régime.
Keep Happy. The happy spirit is a magnet, and draws all that is most pleasant and profitable from all sources to seek you and to become yours.
Keep Happy when you are inclined to be ill-tempered or depressed or anxious. Then your sight and your perspective will change, and you will see the good in every one and every thing.
Keep Happy, and give out Happiness. When we give out Happiness, we always receive more blessings than we give to others.
Keep Happy. Difficulties and troubles enlarge through unhappiness, which is their fertilising manure.
Keep Happy. To keep happy is good and God-like.
Keep Happy. Whoever is happy, longs and tends to make all others happier and happier.
Keep Happy. To keep happy is true heroism—no less so than any spasmodic act of courage.
Keep Happy. Then every good quality within you will grow and flourish and multiply and radiate.
THE END
FOOTNOTES:
[A] “Economy of Energy.”
[B] For instance—“Economy of Energy,” “How to Begin a Change of Diet,” “First Recipes,” “Health without Meat,” “The E.M. System of Physical Culture.”
[C] See “The Uric Acid Fetish,” “How Food Poisons Us.”
[D] See “Curative Exercises.”
[E] See “Curative Exercises,” p. 46.
[F] See “The Uric Acid Fetish” and “How Food Poisons Us.”