In an inspiring conversation, J. Morton Davis and his daughter, Ruki D. Renov, shared insights from their book, Happiness Guaranteed Or Your Misery Back. Mr. Davis emphasized that life presents challenges, but happiness requires effort and intention.
The book offers 365 daily lessons, each infused with wisdom from Pirkei Avos, rabbis, and notable figures, providing practical advice to lift readers from despair to a path of joy. As Mr. Davis stated, this book is a must-read for the entire world. A key quote encapsulates its central theme:
“Every negative has a potential positive. It is up to you to find it and view the situation in that light. One can surrender or rise to the challenge. One can be devastated by life’s trials or grow from them. One person looks up at the sky and sees darkness; another sees the stars. Happiness is not determined by what’s happening around you but by what’s happening inside you. To achieve happiness, let go of what you think your life should look like and celebrate it for what it is.”
This author had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Davis and Mrs. Renov at Mr. Davis’ home in Lawrence, New York. Ruki highlighted the importance of family, noting that all four of her daughters live nearby, and cousins frequently visit each other’s homes, fostering a tight-knit bond.
The book’s 365 lessons provide daily inspiration for happiness. When asked about his favorite lesson, Mr. Davis enthusiastically replied, “All of them!” Reflecting on his motivation for writing the book, he shared that his challenging childhood inspired him to help others find happiness. “This book teaches you how, despite life’s imperfections, to train yourself to feel content, satisfied, and appreciative. Accepting reality is a major step in reducing stress, coping with challenges, and enjoying life’s magnificent benefits.”
Mr. Davis underscored gratitude as the true key to happiness. He encouraged appreciating daily blessings, such as waking up with the ability to see and act, as gifts from Hashem. Ruki shared a family tradition at their Shabbos table, where each person recounts the best moment of his or her week, reinforcing the power of focusing on positives.
The book cites psychological studies showing that smiling, engaging in positive actions, or listing positive events can elevate happiness levels. Mr. Davis shared his remarkable journey of dropping out of school at 14 but later, inspired by his brother and the prospect of earning $25,000 – a fortune at the time – as a Harvard Business School graduate, he excelled academically. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brooklyn College and attended Harvard Graduate School.
Mr. Davis has had an extraordinary career, meeting notable figures like the King of Jordan and Rabbi Noach Weinberg, and participating in missions with Aish HaTorah. At 96, he continues to run his business, lead board meetings, and work on a new book about politics and economics. He also hosts a weekly podcast on current events and positivity.
He credited his father-in-law, who deeply valued family and Torah learning, for shaping his perspective. They studied Pirkei Avos together. Mr. Davis shared a charming anecdote about his father-in-law’s three-family house, where multiple generations lived on different floors. When his father-in-law was upset about his son Moshe “moving,” it was only to the second floor of the same house, illustrating their exceptionally close family ties.
Mr. Davis emphasized that wealth does not guarantee happiness. “There are people with lots of money who are miserable. Happiness is about being content with what you have.”
Here are some favorite excerpts from this inspiring book:
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything.”
“People are not disturbed by things but by the view they take of them.” (Epictetus)
Elaine Fox, a psychologist at the University of Essex and author of Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain, advises, “Take control over how you feel rather than letting feelings control you,” succinctly capturing the book’s theme. “If you learn to control how you feel, you control your own destiny. You will bounce back from setbacks and maximize your enjoyment in life!”
Norman Vincent Peale taught, “Repeatedly think of the positive side of every situation and every challenge.”
“Train yourself not to look at what others have, but to appreciate what you have; not to focus on where you messed up, but where you can improve; not to assign blame, but to take responsibility; not to dwell on what upsets you, but to consider how you might improve your circumstances; not to focus on regret, but to look forward and plan enthusiastically for the future.”
“This book will teach you how to ‘stand up to your own obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have’” (Norman Vincent Peale). “You don’t have to be the best; you only have to be the best you can be. You don’t have to like your circumstances, but you do have to like yourself and work on developing the will, confidence, and conviction to improve your circumstances.”
Abraham Lincoln said, “People are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
“Throughout life, it’s natural to feel pain, frustration, and anger. How we react is up to us. You can cry and rant, or respond with calm, thoughtful logic. Learning to manage these feelings effectively will make you more emotionally balanced and relaxed. Practice being upbeat to widen your happiness pathways.”
“Each person, to make life’s challenges manageable, must muster the courage to discover their true greatness and recognize strengths they never imagined they possessed.” “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” (Les Brown)
As Mr. Davis said, “You are your own boss.”
The book concludes with a powerful thought: “We choose to go to the moon and do other things not because it’s easy but because it’s hard.” (John F. Kennedy)
“It’s never easy; it’s life! You may stumble, but if you persist, controlling your thoughts and dreams, you will achieve the results you want. You have the power – develop it, practice it, refine it. Your goal is happiness – achieve it! Believe in happy endings.” As Christopher Reeve said, “Once you choose hope, anything is possible.”
Mr. Davis hosts a podcast every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
By Susie Garber
