I will never forget the dedication in the book of one of the most reputable experts on the subject of motivation, the American Dr. David J. Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big. When his six-year old son completed kindergarten, Dr. Schwartz asked him what he would like to be when he grew up. Without hesitation, the child replied, Dad, I want to be a professor. A professor? A professor of what?, Dr. Schwartz asked. Well, Dad, his son replied, I think I want to be a professor of happiness. A professor of happiness! Thats a pretty wonderful ambition, dont you think? To them – David, a fine boy with a grand goal, and to his mother, this book is dedicated.
If we were to ask what light is, we would get the most accurate description from a person who had lost the ability to see, and if we were to ask what freedom is, we would certainly get the best explanation from a person who had lost it. However, I do not believe it necessary to ask anyone what happiness is.
Most people think that happiness is a result of personal qualities and circumstances which cannot be measured. For others, the goal of happiness is all or nothing. One of the best tennis players...