I hated Algebra. Still do. See, I never thought numbers and letters should go together. Same with pineapple and pizza. But what if algebra was never about math? What if those old algebraic formulas were clues to understanding life? See, life and algebra are all about finding patterns and relationships. It’s about identifying the “Known Unknown” variables and then solving for them.
In both algebra and life, solving problems requires both patience and dogged persistence. It takes determination.
Fortunately, in life, we know the secret to happiness. Put simply, it’s faith, family, friendships and work that serves others in some way. True happiness lies in isolating and reducing the competing variables and finding balance. It’s about solving for those annoying variables that represent Restlessness, Anxiety, Imagination, Fear, Criticism, and Expectations.
Happiness = Purpose – (R + A): Let’s agree that we are all trying to solve for Happiness. If you can find your Purpose, then you can usually find Happiness. But first, you must solve for the R and A variables — Restlessness and Anxiety. If you’re constantly Restless, you may never be curious enough to find your Purpose. Then, you still must solve for Anxiety. If you’re always anxious, it will be impossible to find Happiness. The formula requires you to find your Purpose and remove both Restlessness and Anxiety. So, the proper formula is Happiness = Purpose – (Restlessness + Anxiety).
Happiness = Reality – E²: This little equation explains about 90 percent of human misery. We’re all chasing Happiness, but too often, Reality falls short of our unrealistic Expectations. When Reality rears its ugly head, you can bet she’s driving an ’04 Buick Skylark with one hubcap missing. She’s carrying a plastic bottle of rum, toting a carton of Winston smokes under her arm. For true Happiness, you have to solve for the Unknown variable of E² — Expectations. When we reduce overly optimistic Expectations², then Reality looks a lot more manageable. So, the final formula is Happiness = Reality – Expectations².
Happiness = (Knowledge + Experience) + (I – F): Okay, welcome to Algebra II. Don’t panic, you can handle it. Happiness is comprised of a combination of variables and is the Algebra II combo platter of Knowledge plus Experience, with a side of those unknown I and F elements. The independent variable is Imagination. Imagination emanates from our brain. I used to think my brain was the smartest organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me that. Imagination cuts both ways. It can allow you to think outside the box, unencumbered by dogma, but it can also be that voice in your head making you doubt yourself. If you’re not careful, your Imagination can raise Fear exponentially. See what I did there? Properly channeled, Knowledge and Experience plus Imagination without Fear is the best formula for Happiness. So, the final answer is Happiness = (Knowledge + Experience) + (Imagination – Fear).
Happiness = (Discomfort × Persistence) – C²: Nobody likes Discomfort. But most truly happy people have experienced some period of Discomfort. Think Victor Frankl, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai and Harriet Tubman. Of course, my biggest Discomfort this week was not getting enough ketchup at the drive-thru window. To be fully human, you must be willing to tolerate a certain amount of real Discomfort, which often isn’t temporary and is usually multiplied by Persistence. But you must be willing to ignore the C variable — Criticism. Unfortunately, Criticism is an exponential variable. To have Happiness, you must multiply Discomfort x Persistence and reduce it by Criticism². So, the final formula looks like Growth = (Discomfort × Persistence) – Criticism².
The trick with life and algebra is recognizing which variables you can control. You can’t always control Reality, but you can dial down your Expectations. You might not be able to eliminate Discomfort, but you can crank up your Persistence. They’re all connected. Finding Happiness reduces Anxiety. Reducing Criticism boosts Imagination. When you solve for one variable, you often find solutions for others. The next time you’re facing a problem that seems unsolvable — break it down into its component parts. Isolate the variables and simplify. Sometimes the solution is easier than you think. Maybe all those unknown variables just need to be identified and solved. Once solved they contain the secrets to a truly happy life. Okay, no homework tonight. There will be a quiz on Friday.
Ever thought about Algebra in this way—or is it just me? I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me an email at [email protected] and let me know what you think. I promise you’ll hear back from me.
