Friend, it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "There is a solution for every problem, and the soul's highest duty is to be of good cheer." So, if a problem can be stated, it can be solved! To say, "Cheer up," is not to ignore a problem or bypass a situation; but good cheer is the first step toward solving all problems. Once, Jesus shouted to his disciples, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." This was said to the disciples when they were in a sinking ship at the height of a devastating storm. It is amazing what can happen when a little cheer is shown.

One of the most important lessons for each of us to learn is to mix our problems with our laughter. You see, there is power in a sense of humour. And all of us can laugh-at ourselves and at our problems. In a real sense, humour can give the brokenness of life the proper weight. It enables us to emerge "strong in the broken places."

Indeed, cheerfulness is one of the great virtues of success. It's like putting fuel on the fire. With it you can conquer gloom, dispel darkness, and heal the mind of loneliness. If I had to make a choice between a talented person and a cheerful person of lesser talent, I would take the cheerful person.

In fact, the amazing results which come from cheerfulness are almost unlimited. Too often the tendency of the human heart is toward gloom, but sunny personalities can be developed as well as inherited.

Most of the world needs cheering up. Especially in the face of the terrorism that is currently sweeping our world and the general insecurity this has produced. Our universities and schools remind me, at times, of penal institutions. Professors and teachers have forgotten that students learn faster and better in an atmosphere of cheer. Our shops, offices, and campuses not only need production, but cheerful production. Happy people put out more work than unhappy people do. Just show me someone who is cheerful and I'll show you someone who has unlimited possibilities.

Today friend, let me suggest several ways for you to learn to be cheerful: (1) Find the reasons in your life at this moment to be of good cheer. It can't be all bad. Make a list right now of the things you consider to be helpful and for which you are grateful. (2) Try to remember the worst thing that has ever happened to you. You lived through that; ask yourself how. Find the answer and you have another stone on which to step. (3) Think of one person you know that is glad you're alive. Everybody has somebody. (4) Go to the Bible and read the Psalms. There are over 360 "fear-nots" in the Bible, one for each day. Find the one you need! Above everything else, remember that you are made in the image of God. He loves you! Learn these lessons of cheer and watch the lights of your soul turn on every day for the rest of your life. Cheer up! Be glad you're alive!

Perhaps you're having difficulty in the cheerfulness department because tensions, irritability, guilt and other negative feelings are stealing happiness from you. If this is so, we'd like to help by sending you a booklet titled, "7 Ways God Can Help You Be Happier." It's a book about relationships with others, yourself and God. When these relationships are understood, we have taken a giant step toward happiness. For your FREE copy, write to: A BETTER LIFE, P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331 or Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au