Chapter 22 Radiant Happiness

We have a much more fun and lighthearted Chapter in store for us this week. We are talking about Radiant Happiness. Radiant Happiness is a voluntary quality, such as smiling, which differs from Inner Happiness Because inner happiness is earned through building your character.

Qualities of Radiant Happiness include: Cheerfulness, laughter, singing, joyfulness, smiles, bright eyes, enthusiasm, humor, optimism, sunny disposition, happy spirit, charming vivacity,

Men find these qualities in women to be delightful and fascinating. A beautiful woman may not practice this joyful expressiveness because they may think they can get by on looks alone. But men certainly notice these "personality traits" of the fascinating women who radiate fun, charm, and optimism. If you only focus on your outer appearance when trying to become a more feminine woman, you will miss this opportunity to highlight a happy spirit, sense of humor, and enthusiasm for life.

Deruchette, Amelia, and Dora

These characters keep being referenced throughout this book. But there so little available about the book Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo, this is where the character Deruchette comes from. I can't even find summaries or character analyses of her online. Over and over Andelin uses her as an example of a bright woman who can "cast light upon dark days."

Dora from David Copperfield had much more extensive character analyses available. She was fascinating because she was girlish and dependent and obsessed with her little dogs. She has qualities so contrasted to David Copperfield that he was fascinated by her despite her lack of depth and immaturity. She had bright eyes, laughter, optimism, and a sunny disposition that drew people in.

Amelia from Vanity Fair by William Thackery has also been discussed several times, she is being contrasted to more ambitious women characters. As I was looking for articles about her it appears that "Vanity Fair" is going to be remade into a TV series for the BBC again in 2018, and coming soon to Amazon Prime. Maybe it's already available on Amazon Prime. If you are interested in her then I would give that a look.

Dolley Madison

Dolley Madison was a very popular and much loved First Lady of the United States, first unofficially as she acted the role to the widower Thomas Jefferson, and then officially when her husband James Madison was president from 1809-1817. So she was unofficially the First lady for almost 16 years. She was known for lavish parties and social appearances. She entertained politicians of both parties and was able to soothe tensions and create a pleasant entertaining atmosphere for all. "Her sweet manners, her tact and kindness of heart, made her friends everywhere." The link has a lot of sweet information about her if you are interested in history.

Ninon de Lenclos

Another famous and historical woman known for her radiant happiness is Ninon de Lenclos, this time from seventeeth century France. She was associated with authors and play-writes, including Voltaire. She was beautiful and witty, and irresistible to her famous lovers.

"The most wonderful thing about her, everyone said, was her eager delight in everything around her. In her own words she said, "You never hear me say, 'This is good' or 'This is bad' but a thousand times a day I say, 'I enjoy, I enjoy'

A Sense of Humor

This is not referring to edgy jokes or sarcastic commentary, but really a charming disposition of being able to laugh at the little things. This is in reference to ordinary situations where something has gone wrong. It's a way of coping with stress, of making a choice between laughter and frustration. Some examples might include:

Packing two similar looking black heels on your vacation, but alas, two different shoes.

Writing an address or placing the stamp upside down on a greeting card envelope

Accidentally dropping a birthday cake or a casserole. All that effort and now a mess!

"Next time you have a mishap, try to see the humor"

Try not to let these trivial errors in life darken your day (or your facial expression) I've been trying to work on this problem in different ways if I feel myself getting frustrated. Sometimes just monitoring your emotions and moods, and setting positive intentions can help me be more aware of my frustrations, and let them go a bit easier.

How to Acquire Radiant Happiness

Work for Inner Happiness When you make efforts to maintain your inner happiness, it will be easier to project this outwardly. This is continual work.

Make a Conscious Effort Stand before the mirror and smile. Work on your inviting appearance, and then accentuate this by smiling with your whole face, lips, eyes, heart. Let go of any self consciousness and allow your joy to be seen by others. Nothing is more attractive than unbridled joy. Next work on you attitude, try to rid yourself of skeptical critical thoughts and face the day with optimism and hope.

Radiate Happiness to All Have a smile for everyone you encounter, people at the grocery store, clerks at the mall, don't just save your luminance for your family. And you should also be bright and pleasant whether they "deserve it" or not, when people are disagreeable they are the ones who need a kind word or a friend most of all.

"The world delights in sunny people; there are more than enough serious ones."

Smile through Adversity

"It's easy enough to be pleasant

When life flows by like a song

But the one worthwhile is the one who can smile

When everything goes dead wrong

For the test of the heart is trouble

And it always comes with the years

And the smile that is worth the praises of earth

Is the smile that shines through tears"

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Health It's easier to be radiant and glad when you haven't been burning the wick at both ends. Make sure you are sleeping enough, doing enough self care, and keeping after your health. Health is the topic of next weeks chapter as well.

Assignment

Practice smiling before the mirror. Include the Lips, the Eyes, and the Whole Countenance

Read Chapter 23 Radiant Health

Discussion

Is there someone you look up to that you percieve to be radiantly happy? Someone in your personal life, or someone famous? Please share.