Though many teenage girls would disagree, the set of emotions inside a human being resemble a piano, and the owner of the emotions plays the role of the pianist. This musician might have a crowd of people surrounding him with each person yelling a specific note to play. In a situation like this the screamers try to persuade the piano player to play one thing; however, the only person who can choose which key the pianist hits is himself. Likewise, a person might not have control over the situations surrounding him. Tragic events could take place making it easier to become depressed, or to feel self pity. But no matter how many people yell at a pianist to play Chopin, he still has the ability to choose Beethoven. Difficult situations will always find their way into a person’s life, yet that person will never lose the opportunity to choose happiness.
Living in happiness requires three fundamental steps: 1) keeping a positive perspective, 2) eliminating self pity, and 3) making an active choice. Helen Keller said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller, a woman lacking the access to two of life’s most common luxuries, emphasizes the importance of finding an open door to happiness, instead of focusing on what lies behind closed doors. Seeking out an open door does not always mean looking for the “silver lining.” It could mean feeling peace with a situation. In this case, the person may not like their circumstance, but they choose to recognize that they cannot change it, and move forward with their life.
By choosing to find the open doors leading to happiness, people can eliminate the self pity they feel. Harboring the habit of feeling sorry for one’s self increases the difficulty of achieving true happiness. On many occasions, uncontrollable events provoke individuals to feel victimized. A person living in the constant belief that they cannot escape their unfortunate life soon becomes a victim of self pity more than anything else. Like some of the most deadly drugs, self pity possesses addictive qualities, and it separates people from reality. Self pity is dangerous and creates a wall preventing those who indulge from progressing to complete happiness.
Seeing situations from a positive perspective and eliminating self pity have a common foundation; both cases require a conscious choice and commitment from the seeker of happiness. When people allow surrounding conditions to influence them, slipping into disappointment, discouragement, depression, and the deprivation of joy feels justifiable. Negative emotions lie at such an attainable point that the easiness of reaching them often appeals more than the diligence needed to push through and work for happiness. These emotions falsely seduce individuals into believing that happiness is not a choice.
Even with screamers suffocating a blossoming concert pianist, he has a choice to make. Will he bow down to the wishes of those around him and play Chopin? Or will he take control of his situation and play Beethoven? Picture this: the pianist introduces himself. He pulls out the piano bench and takes a seat. He cracks his knuckles in preparation for his performance. Men, women, and teens on all sides of him yell, “Chopin! Play Chopin! We want Chopin!!” The musician takes a deep breath, and begins playing Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata. The chaos of the spectators increases. They boo and hiss, but gradually, they see how bright Beethoven makes the piano player. One by one, they begin to listen. The barrier breaks. Beethoven got through to those who unwillingly heard him. Through a choice and commitment to bear whatever hardship came from his decision to play Beethoven, the pianist prevailed in uplifting himself and those around him.
