A Happy Trip From Gloom to Cheer
Val enjoys writing prose in rhymes by always leaving a message of a life truism in each piece.

It's amazing how much easier it is to be stressed out -- being very busy in mind, than relaxed and not do much mentally. One would assume that not doing is easier than doing.
Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.
-- Roy T. Bennett
Introduction
It has to take some time -- and it depends on us how long -- to undo some lousy emotional routines after they have been practiced for who knows how long. Unfortunately, there is no switch in our neuro-endocrine system to make it happen overnight.
So we have to be clear about what we are going against in our nature before understanding any steps in a positive direction. Practice makes it perfect, and we ultimately become whatever we have practiced.
Happiness is to be viewed as a mental skill, not as a result of some favorable circumstances that we have achieved through hard work, or by being lucky. You won't see many happy and healthy billionaires who spent their lives pushing an illusion that money would buy them that best of life that's free.
Unfortunately we live in a materialistically oriented world where such illusions are widespread like favorite superstitions -- one being called "American Dream". Success is everywhere defined as the end result of hard work and good winning strategies -- and often presented as an attainment of happiness.
We can't by ourselves happiness, and neither can we talk ourselves into it, because only imagination can arouse those happy states which we are to keep duplicating until they become our second nature.
Indeed, it's up to our imagination to create a new intimate reality, as we are picturing ourselves as if already having achieved happiness. How would we act as a happy person? -- then act that way. What would our facial expressions, and our posture be? -- then be that way.
The next pieces of my prose in rhymes depict those states before and after we have decided to make the steps from gloom to cheer.
All Worries for Nothing
Sorry to remind you of your mortal status
it was not meant to be point of this story
but life has to come to that last hiatus
not ending only fun, but also worry.
How is it fair that after an expertise achieved
after all that practice of worrying and fuss
we end up so surprised and deceived
with no dreaded crap befalling us.
So there we are, a bunch of old geezers
at end of our rope all wrinkled and sterile
pale and fragile as if came from freezers
but so proud to have avoided every peril.
For, life was full of threats, from ills to disasters
and getting ready with worry was a thing to do
so that's how we became worrying masters
though ruining happiness and health too.
So, what's really the deal with this addiction
with this abuse of our morbid imagination
for it's nothing else but the mind's fiction
sabotaging joy and a healthy elation.
Let's think for a moment about that last day
and memories of crap that never took place
and just consider how much we could delay
all the crappy aging worry pus on our face.
Nerves are our biggest treasure
no money could buy us a new set
we need them good for our pleasure
losing them brings us so much regret
So do your best to save your precious nerves
from unnecessary rackets, whether big or small
that's one of things that your life surely deserves
without which your efforts amount to nothing at all.

Indeed, what's the point of growing up and learning, if in the process we forget the most important thing -- being happy.
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile is the source of your joy.
-- Thich Nhat Hanh
Step Out of Your Own Way
To achieve happiness is easy
just step out of your own way
with that mind being too busy
and allow heart to have a say.
You already know it can't be bought
though many have tried - to no avail
depreciating what they've already got
it's such a sure recipe to miserably fail.
Money can buy us a satisfaction
while heart is still void of a true joy
a reward for some strenuous action
oftentimes mixed with things that annoy.
For in a struggle to achieve success
we're losing the ability to happily unwind
it's the painful path for a continuous stress
so we just mentally practice for a pissed mind.
Thus, again, step aside with that busy mind
and your heart will know exactly what to do
don't sabotage something you want to find
whatever you are seeking it's seeking you.
When we practice feeling crappy
for so many years, if not decades
we can't expect to become happy
like waiting for sunshine in shades.
We may decide to inspire happy change
by thinking thoughts of positive kind
only to discover something strange
that heart refuses to follow mind.
So we drop the whole project feeling phony
sure that happiness is but a crazy dream
those books being a bunch of baloney
writers' gimmick, a cheap scheme.
But if we honestly examine our heart
the one rejecting idea of turning happy
we just might arrive to something smart
that no new habits can be formed snappy.
So if you want to feel great most of the day
start by wiping that frown off your brow
for it's the only truly promising way
to smile a lot in here and now.
© 2020 Val Karas
Comments
Val Karas (author) from Canada on November 28, 2020:
Thank you, Brenda, I am happy you liked them.
BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on November 27, 2020:
Val,
These are great.
It is hard to change our hearts desire but you are correct that we must think like we already have what we want.
We must smike even when our heart doesn't want too.
Great writes.