Is there a key that unlocks the door to personal happiness and goodness? Yes. And Dennis Prager, nationally syndicated talk show host and best selling author, knows what it is.
I agree with everything Dennis said. It seems, that it would be difficult to be grateful if you didn't believe in a God who is real. Who would you direct your gratitude toward?
I always thought that humility, imagination and courage were the essentials for spirituality. Gratitude is great but it implies feeling grateful for a gift coming from the outside, and therefore, passivity and maybe unawareness. I cannot accept the "gift" that Christ died for my sins, since I want to work on my own weaknesses and sins because that requires both humility and courage. Joe
I think the key to happiness is knowing how to determine who your true friends are versus people who are your acquaintances. Friends will be there to support you under any circumstance or crisis you may have. Acquaitances appear to be important in your life but seem to let you down very often, when you expect the simplest thing or courtesy from him or her!!
Michael, That a person has been victimized does not automatically create the persona of a victim which is what Dennis is describing. Most people have been victimized somewhere along the line . . . Most do not take on the perpetual role of an entitled victim. Those who do simply have the wrong focus and therefore will be less happy for it. If you have not done this, then you are not the target of Mr. Prager's message.
It is those who maintain an external locus of control who are the unhappy ones. Those with an internal locus of control, don't dwell on how they were victimized, but pull themselves up and succeed in life, have gratitude for their blessings and are happier people in general.
In addition to my previous comments, I'd like to point out one extreme case of parental abuse.
I have only to mention the name of Jaycee Dugard. This young woman now has two offspring who were fathered by her "aledged" abductor. What are those two young girls if not victims? Were they not entitled to better protection for their father's parole agent? They might have been removed from that place sooner hand had less damage done to them if removed when very young, perhaps in infancy.
What would you say to those victims Mr. Prager?
I agree that some take on the role of victim who arguably don't deserve it and exploit their victim status to their advantage, and often to the disadvantage of others. But the distinction between real victims and "wolves in sheep's clothing" type "victims."
Rachael, Please don't be so hard on yourself. You are not a child, but you are only 19. By what you write, you sound like a very thoughtful young woman. At age 19 not very many people that I am aware of, expect you to be living high on a six figure income at age 19. I suggest, (not dictate) that you might have some schooling ahead of you.
Give yourself a break Rachael. You'll get on your feet in due time. There are people whom you've never met, who because of your comment here, are rooting for you. I am one of them. Please take a deep breath, and be good to yourself. You are no villain from what I can see. I wish you all the best.
This is a good general statement. I pause on one statement. Mr. Prager used the statement "I am a victim of my parents" as one example of a victim-hood mentality that creates a sense of entitlement.
As a victim of child abuse myself, I for one do not have a sense of entitlement as Mr. Prager describes. But when I was the 7th grade, my father left bruises around my forehead in one episode of a life time of pummeling. As a child I hope that I was entitled to be protected by the teacher to whom I reported the beating. I was not.
Mr. Prager, please don't forget that there are real victims in this world. As a grown man of 40 years, I now have a college degree and I am employed. I am not on government welfare. It might be nice though, if I could have SOME help with the emotional and spiritual scars left behind. Not that I am entitled, but I shouldn't be ashamed to hope for help either.
Comments
You are a virtuoso of wisdom.
Ridiculous fan.
That a person has been victimized does not automatically create the persona of a victim which is what Dennis is describing. Most people have been victimized somewhere along the line . . . Most do not take on the perpetual role of an entitled victim. Those who do simply have the wrong focus and therefore will be less happy for it. If you have not done this, then you are not the target of Mr. Prager's message.
It is those who maintain an external locus of control who are the unhappy ones. Those with an internal locus of control, don't dwell on how they were victimized, but pull themselves up and succeed in life, have gratitude for their blessings and are happier people in general.
I have only to mention the name of Jaycee Dugard. This young woman now has two offspring who were fathered by her "aledged" abductor. What are those two young girls if not victims? Were they not entitled to better protection for their father's parole agent? They might have been removed from that place sooner hand had less damage done to them if removed when very young, perhaps in infancy.
What would you say to those victims Mr. Prager?
I agree that some take on the role of victim who arguably don't deserve it and exploit their victim status to their advantage, and often to the disadvantage of others. But the distinction between real victims and "wolves in sheep's clothing" type "victims."
Please don't be so hard on yourself. You are not a child, but you are only 19. By what you write, you sound like a very thoughtful young woman. At age 19 not very many people that I am aware of, expect you to be living high on a six figure income at age 19. I suggest, (not dictate) that you might have some schooling ahead of you.
Give yourself a break Rachael. You'll get on your feet in due time. There are people whom you've never met, who because of your comment here, are rooting for you. I am one of them. Please take a deep breath, and be good to yourself. You are no villain from what I can see. I wish you all the best.
As a victim of child abuse myself, I for one do not have a sense of entitlement as Mr. Prager describes. But when I was the 7th grade, my father left bruises around my forehead in one episode of a life time of pummeling. As a child I hope that I was entitled to be protected by the teacher to whom I reported the beating. I was not.
Mr. Prager, please don't forget that there are real victims in this world. As a grown man of 40 years, I now have a college degree and I am employed. I am not on government welfare. It might be nice though, if I could have SOME help with the emotional and spiritual scars left behind. Not that I am entitled, but I shouldn't be ashamed to hope for help either.
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