More on being right or being happy . . .
"Do you prefer that you be right or happy?"
- A Course in Miracles
It's been very interesting - I have received so many emails, Facebook comments, Twitters and personal conversations about my last post - Right or Happy? Not always an easy decision. It seems to have touched a chord in many people. As a matter of fact, one article claims that this is the most quoted line from A Course in Miracles.
"Do you prefer that you be right or happy?" This is surely one of the most frequently quoted lines in the Course, especially when Course students are engaged in a debate of some sort. When someone expresses a strong conviction—a belief that he or she is right about something—this line is often used to suggest that being right and being happy are mutually exclusive. You can either stand up for what you believe is right or you can be happy. There is no way you can be bothright and happy; this line from the Course says that you must give up any and all desire to be right in order to be happy. It has become a part of Course lore that we can be right or we can be happy, and never the twain shall meet."
I don't know if that's true, that never the twain shall meet. But I've talked to so many people in the last week who claim that this was the main cause of their divorce or separation from a loved one. I know that when Jeff and I get in arguments, we usually back ourselves into our separate corners and argue our point, trying in vain to prove we are right. Just as an aside, I'm about 5 foot tall and Jeff is over 6 foot tall. We had a counselor once who suggested I stand on a chair when we argue to even us up so I don't have to look up to him when trying to prove my point. That one act, standing on a chair, usually helps to end the argument, not necessarily so I can argue my point better, but because it makes us laugh! And this eases the way for us to come out of the respective corners that we've been backed ourselves into and start to communicate differently. A sense of humor makes all the difference in the world.There is an inspiring article about being right or happy on one of my favorite blogs, Positively Positive. Well worth a read.This little video about being right or happy is kind of fun. (The video ended up being an advertisement for starting your own business, which I'm not advocating, but the beginning of the vid is fun anyway.) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMvii2b-7W8] I'd love to hear about your experiences being Right or Happy.And as always thank you for taking the time to visit, I appreciate it.