I met a man who has all the reasons to blame the universe for things that make each
day of his life a struggle but chose to see the good in every day. He is Winston
Maxino. When he mentioned that he is diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a type
of arthritis affecting the spine, I recalled the moments when I suffer from the
pain caused by my scoliosis. My episodes are infrequent but would always make me
want to give up. Winston deal with the pain every day. He almost did not make it
to the Laughternoon event. But when I saw him entered the room, he was all smiles.
No wonder, he was the first Cebuana Lhuillier Happiest Pinoy grand winner in 2010.
Instead on focusing on what brings him down, Maxino chooses to focus on the positive.
He acknowledges that there are trying days and it's normal to feel discouraged at
times. But he doesn't allow the suffering to take away from him the opportunity
to spread happiness to other people. He knows that a genuine smile can brighten
someone's day and small act of kindness can have a ripple effect.
How to find happiness
Your happiness should not depend on another person. It should come from within.
Also, you cannot spread happiness if you do not have it in you. Here are some things
you can do to bring happiness into your life:
1. Take pleasure in simple things.
Don't we envy the toddlers laughing endlessly because of a bouncing ball? We get
so caught up with our ambitions and busy schedules that we forget take notice of
the beautiful rainbow or the funny shapes of the clouds.
2. Do the things that you love.
Writing makes me happy. The pay isn't much compared to my corporate job but I love
doing it. Painting also makes me happy. I am not good at it but I enjoy the activity.
When was the last time you did something you really enjoyed?
3. Surround yourself with happy people.
Make an inventory of the people you hang out with or you interact with on social
media. Are they the type who find fault at almost everything? Or do they share funny,
joyful, and inspiring stories? Be with people who make you laugh and see the positive
side of life.
4. Imagine the best scenario.
Your thoughts become things. If you think positive, you will attract positive. Always
hope for the best in every situation. Don't be afraid to claim what you really want.
You'd be surprised how powerful your mind is.
5. Acknowledge the bad. Accept the good.
There are days when things don't work out as planned. It's okay to be disappointed.
It's normal feel bad. Don't deny yourself feeling bad. But don't let yourself be
discouraged by setbacks. You'll learn. You'll improve. Once you've acknowledged
the bad, you can move on and try again.
Wanted: Happiest Pinoy
The Philippines is ranked 71 in 2018 World Happiness Report. Filipinos can still
manage to laugh and smile in spite of the difficulties we face. Cebuana Lhuillier's
Search for the Happiest Pinoy 2018 received 800,000 entries.
The finalists will be announced soon and P1,000,000 tax-free grand prize is up for
grabs.
Will you be the 2018 Happiest Pinoy?
Source: www.snappedandscribbled.com