{souce : Claire_Sambrook}
“I’d far rather be happy than right any day”
— Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)
This is one of my favorite quotes. It even made it up on my Facebook info page. I didn’t realize how much yoga had changed my view on the world until I came across this quote recently and I realized that it meant something completely different to me than it used to.
Orginally, the quote meant (to me) something along the lines of “ignorance is bliss” or simply not wanting to know if I’m wrong because I’d rather be happy thinking I’m right. I thought this was a positive way to look at life. That I wasn’t going to worry about making sure I was right. I was just going to be happy with my truth. But really this is only half of living my truth.
“The need to be right is the sign of a vulgar mind.”- Albert Camus
In order to really be happy, I need to learn to be happy when I’m wrong. I will be able to accept being wrong. I will want to be corrected so that I can learn and live with the truth – not just my own version of it. Adams’ quote is still one of my favorites. I feel like it means even more to me now than it did before. It actually makes me want to reread the book to see how he really meant it…
Namaste
13 Responses to Rather Be Happy Than Right
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well said!!! and you're right – we have to be ok with what is regardless of whether we are right or not. that is the true meaning of letting of the ego =)
"letting go of the ego"
I didn't think of it like that! You're completely right
What a way to reconnect with an old fave read! I think it really shows how you can constantly re-assess and learn, and you are so right – accepting that you can be happy when right and wrong is huge!!
It's so interesting to go back and reread books (even books from my childhood) and see how different they touch me now
I got a cute email from my guy today. He was positively flummoxed last night about something at work. I told him he was making a big deal out of nothing. Today he sent me a very cute message to say I was proven correct. I'm saving it because it doesn't happen often.
Oh, so true and so not easy to do. I have the same issue, for sure. But, saying it is a step toward changing it!
It's all about baby steps
Being right isn't a happy road. #insixwords (ha!)
When I'm told that I'm right – it's [usually] a cold, empty triumph. Sure, I've proven a point or shown that I do know what I'm talking about, but being right isn't going to make me happy. I have to make the choice to pursue happiness – and not pursue being right all the time.
Good point! Usually people are not saying "you're right!" in a happy way… it's more of a "yeah yeah you're right…".
I agree! I used to look at that quote like "ignorance is bliss" until probably the last few years. I have gotten really good at releasing the need to be right especially when talking to people I know "need" to be right. I think I am much happier now than I used to be and that is a big part of it.
I'm sooo glad that I'm not the only one that heard that way at first!
I think I'm working towards being happier now too
<3
That is a great quote. I like your idea of being happy even when you are wrong.