1. Just for today I will be happy. This
assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy
as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a
matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and
not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business,
and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will
exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse nor neglect it, so that it will be a
perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I
will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read
something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways;
I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two
things I don't want to do as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as
well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with
praise, criticize not at all, nor fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve
anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only,
not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that
would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write
down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have
it. It will eliminate two pests, hurry and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself
and relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little
more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not
be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I
love, love me.
If we want to develop a mental attitude that will
bring us peace and happiness, here is Rule #1:
Think and act cheerfully, and you will feel
cheerful.
Written by Sybyl F Partridge in 1916 and
printed in
"How To Stop Worrying, And Start Living" by Dale Carnegie, 1951