Inspirations, News & Events
June 3, 2010
"Don't Worry?...Be Happy?"
By Rev. Jan Seward  Dear Unity Friends, Happiness is an inside job--there is no other way. If
you and I are going to be happy in life, it's got to be right where we are, doing what we're doing, living with the people with whom we're living, and working with
the people with whom we're working.. Several years ago, Bobby McFerrin recorded some song lyrics titled "Don't Worry, Be Happy". A few of them are:
In every life we have some trouble,
When we worry we make it double,
Don't worry, be happy,
When you worry your face will frown,
And that will bring everybody down,
Don't worry, be happy."
I believe these simple lyrics can also be a good philosophy for life because they call for the cultivation of a
courageous attitude toward life---the imagination to see beyond trouble and to realize that there is always joy
in the world, always bright spots underlying depressions, always sunlight shining above the clouds.
This philosophy accepts the fact that life is composed of joys and sorrows, rough and smooth places,
disappointments and happy surprises. From this higher vantage point, we are able to look at all that life
presents us with and yet still be wise enough to face it squarely, each change in its turn.  Psalm 40:4 encourages us: "Happy are those who make the Lord their trust
." Through our prayer and meditation practice, we tap into the Christ Spirit within and begin to build up a reserve of inner strength, courage and confidence that is not dependent on outer
happenings. And as we keep looking to the Spirit within, we cannot worry and be happy at the same time.
So, don't worry about anything, instead rejoice and pray about everything!
Rev. Jan
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