William James Quote (Photo credit: Psychology Pictures)
Artemus Ward, [a pseudonym of Charles Farrar Browne], was a popular, mid-nineteenth century humorist whose work is said to have had a strong influence on the writings of Samuel Clemens, (more commonly known as Mark Twain). Both Ward and Twain, like all great humorists, had the ability to sweeten profound insights in a way that made them easier to swallow. Artemus Ward once wrote:
“Trouble will come soon enough, and when he does come receive him as pleasantly as possible . . . the more amiably you greet him, the sooner he will go away.”
The insight presented here is that of the incredible power that acceptance has to assist you in speeding through the challenges of life.
It is an indisputable fact that trouble and difficulties are part of the experience of being human. No one wishes for problems but, like it or not, they come to all of us from time-to-time. To receive trouble “pleasantly” means that you do not resist acknowledging the fact that it is present.
If trouble has arrived at your house and is pounding on the door, simply refusing to open the door will not cause it to go away; it will just bang more loudly until you are driven to madness with fear and anxiety.
No, once it has arrived, you must open the door and receive it in order for you to overcome it. As the late William James wrote, (a man considered by many to the father of modern psychology), “Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”
And, there is great power in greeting a problem “amiably,” because approaching trouble with a cheerful expectancy of a positive outcome will break the chains that fear generates and allow your Spirit to work in peace.
When you master those two things – attitude and perspective – “the sooner the trouble will go away.”
Many Blessings To All…
LOTD
