BE HAPPY, BE SMART

Like George Carlin, America’s famous stand-up comedian, I too believe the term ‘self-help’ when attached as a prefix to the word ‘book’ is a misnomer. Think about it. If you’re looking for help in a book written by somebody else, then shouldn’t it be called seeking help? How can it be self-help? Anyway, I’m not trying to put an entire genre of authors out of their jobs by trivialising what they do. But what I’m certainly trying to say is that I believe in the term self-help. Personally, I’ve had a high success rate with it, so I have faith in its power. And if there are times when any amount of introspection does not find me an answer to my problem, I read Calvin and Hobbes. Yes, the comic strip created by American cartoonist Bill Watterson.

This time go ahead and judge me if you like, but for me Calvin, the precocious six-year-old boy, and his alter ego stuffed toy Hobbes, are the light at the end of the metaphoric dark tunnel, the master key to all of the world’s problems – or at least my problems for sure.

Are you now wondering, how so? Because I believe the two are happy as they should be, despite the holier-than-thou girlfriend, a bully for a classmate and numerous other naysayers in their lives. The word ‘Don’t’ just does not exist in their vocabulary, their imagination is not constrained by any harsh reality and they definitely do not seek validation from those around them. Life is simple, and that’s the way to be.

And if you’re now trying to point out to me that they are a figment of someone’s imagination and therefore far removed from reality, then I’ll point you towards the feature ‘How to boost your EQ’ on page 46. According to experts, a high emotional quotient or a happy attitude is the smarter way to be. It gets you plum jobs and promotions, and keeps you on top of the popularity charts at work.

And now if you’re wondering which self-help book you should pick up to improve your EQ score, I would still say choose Calvin and Hobbes.

Until next week,