The Jimmy Durante song I quoted yesterday, Make Someone Happy, gave me pause.
Too often the attempt to make someone happy involves draining yourself of your own energy and aliveness. I like the title quote, because it makes it plain that you have to be happy first before you can coax another towards happiness. It's like what they tell you in the airplane before take off: Put your own gas mask on first before you help someone else with theirs.
You have to HAVE what you're giving before you can truly give it.
If you don't feel happy yourself, you can't make anyone else happy. They'll feel the drain that they are on your energy and resent your attempts to do whatever you can, whatever it takes, to make them smile. Walk away from the unwilling. They will pull you in their direction faster than you can pull them in yours.
If you want to make someone happy, then daily assess your happiness quotient. Is it a flickering candle? Then focus on enlightening yourself before you try to light the way for others. Is it strong and bright? Then you'll share your happiness like the sun shares it's light, effortlessly, joyfully and freely.
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