PRINCIPLES IN LIFE

• DON'T FIGHT JUST TO BE RIGHT.

Many of us will argue long into the night just to prove we are right. Such battles are to be avoided at all costs. Those who appear overly argumentative and stubborn are seldom admired or respected. If you cannot convince someone of your opinion within a few calm exchanges, simply defuse the conversation by agreeing to disagree. Chances are, someone who is willing to go round after round with you will never be convinced to see it your way anyway.

• EXPRESS ANGER BEFORE IT TURNS TO RAGE.

Everyone feels angry every now and then, but what separates a normal person from a person with an anger problem is being able to express it in a healthy way. A Buddhist proverb states, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." Indeed, holding on to anger and collecting things to be angry about quickly leads to unhappiness, which only hurts you. It is a good idea to deal with small annoyances as they come up rather than wait until you explode with rage.

• ADOPT A "WHO CARES" ATTITUDE.

The next time you are tempted to loose your cool, try reacting with a "who cares attitude". If the bottom of your grocery bag rips, spend a minute laughing at the situation. If there is a line at the bank, make conversations with the person ahead of you. If you make a wrong turn, find a good song on the radio to pass the extra time. People are inspired by those who appear joyous, carefree and happy. Being carefree and untroubled, on the other hand, is emblematic of someone who is young at heart and delights in life.

• ONLY SMALL, PETTY PEOPLE ARE RUFFLED BY SMALL, PETTY EVENT.

Journalist Sydney J. Harris once asked, "If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size?" Indeed, only small, petty people are ruffled by small, petty events. Show those around you the depth of your character by refusing to become undone by minor obstacles. Also, prevent anger by avoiding circumstances that will lead to frustration. Map a new route to work if your current one was heavily traffic. Find a new lunch spot if you can no longer stand listening to your coworkers complain. In as many ways as possible, create a success - prone and stress - free environment for yourself.

• VIEW SETBACKS AS OPPORTUNITIES.

Henry Ford once said, "The world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching forward." The father of the assembly line and the model T automobile was no stranger to setbacks. As an inventor, he repeatedly hit roadblocks that stalled his progress, but Ford always turned setbacks into opportunities. his reward was crafting a variety of successful inventions that over his lifetime won him 161 US patents. Think of Ford the next time you hit a roadblock. Viewing setbacks as opportunities rather than obstacles is foundational to developing a positive outlook and becoming a happy person.

Note: When I was studying in college, I had a part time job in a Pizza restaurant. My supervisor always send us inspirational messages through text message. I don't know where he got this, maybe from a particular book or lists of books. I decided to take note of the messages by writing in the journal for keeping.