Odd as it seems

“I begin to suspect that the world is divided not only into the happy and the unhappy, but into those who like happiness and those who, odd as it seems, really don’t.” CS Lewis wrote these words shortly before he passed away.

Here are three ways I use to identify whether a person wants to be happy.

Firstly, from the media they choose to forward to others. If they gravitate towards negative news, real or fake, it can indicate they are drawn to despair.

Secondly, by what you compare your situation with. There will always be aspects of other people, countries, or jobs that you will covet. If you consistently compare yourself to them, don't be surprised if you're always disappointed and unsatisfied. Whether you compare yourself to something better or something worse, the comparison is equally true. And equally useless.

Lastly, take note of what they say when attempting to break an awkward silence. When tension builds, people tend to say whatever comes to mind just to fill the silence. If they consistently bring up topics we should feel sad about, it may suggest they have a tendency towards misery.