Permission to be Happy - episode 77
Adrienne IS a breath of fresh air. She exudes the kind of happiness we all want a piece of. The good news? We can actually have that, be that. Turns out it’s not as hard as we sometimes make it out to be. Listen to how she became an accidental author by coming from a dark, depressing time of the soul to learning about the science of happiness, shifting and allowing happiness in.
Her heart is full and fulfilled. She is doing the thing she learned back in her economic’s class in high school - find something to help humanity the most - right where you are. And she is. Adrienne is sharing with the rest of us all that she has studied, all that she has learned to be happy anyway, to love anyway, and to believe anyway. She herself embodies the experiences that have brought her to this place. She is one happy girl.
Happy. Courageous. (Coming in) Clutch.
— Adrienne
Don’t Worry Be Happy
Thoughts from Permission to be Happy
I couldn’t help but think of the song, Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin when deciding what to write about this week. It is a happy song. The other song I absolutely love is Happy by Pharrell Williams. (I’ll share the lyrics to both in a minute.) It is impossible to stay blue when you hear either one. I know for me, I start singing and dancing immediately. I feel full of joy and delight so much so I hardly know how to contain myself. I think that’s what Adrienne is getting at, and encouraging the rest of us to get to, that state, and to do what we can to stay there. Some of it is training how we think, reframing experiences and making choices that will lead us to a full heart. It’s contagious!
As a former worrier, the “what if?” pastime was huge for me, and I partook often. Yet I have retrained myself not to worry. It was hard and took lots of practice. Lots of practice. So much practice to finally do better. Be better. I recognized it will only lead me to a state of stress, tension and physical ailments as those thoughts course through my body manifesting themselves in various ways, all unhealthy. Plus, it doesn’t change anything. I have reframed any former worries into concerns and stayed in that lane as best I could. Also letting go is required. Through faith I have been awakened to the reality of having very little to do with how things turn out. Sure I can do what I can do (free will and all), but I can’t do or be for anyone else. The physical safety of kids/loved ones, illnesses, accidents, natural disasters, heartbreak, hurts, poor choices that lead to real, natural consequences. Did I miss any?
And then there was this. The final statement that keeps me in my lane, and the icing on the cake: Worry is worshiping the problem; by TobyMac, #speaklife quotes. Truth bomb. Drop the mic. Snap snap. Ok, I get it, and even see it in a new light. Proceed with the fullness of life and when the worst happens, feel those feelings and carry on. I don’t see any other way. I don’t want any other way. Don’t worry, be happy. Cue the music…
Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now
don't worry
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry, be happy
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The landlord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Oh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number, when you worry, call me, I make you happy, don't worry, be happy)
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got no gal to make you smile
Don't worry, be happy
'Cause when you worry your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy
Happy by Pharrell Williams
It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to say
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care baby by the way
Huh, because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Here come bad news, talking this and that
(Yeah) Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back
(Yeah) Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine
(Yeah) No offense to you, don't waste your time
Here's why
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Hey, come on, uh
Bring me down, can't nuthin' (happy)
Bring me down
My level is too high to bring me down (happy)
Can't nuthin', bring me down (happy)
I said, let me tell you now, unh (happy)
Bring me down, can't nuthin', bring me down (happy, happy, happy)
My level is too high to bring me down (happy, happy, happy)
Can't nuthin' bring me down (happy, happy, happy)
Happiness is singing and dancing…like no one is watching.
— FB it’s the happy page
