The-Conquest-of-Happiness-by-Bertrand-Russell

Many people get into fret or a fury over every little
thing that goes wrong, and in this way waste a
great deal of energy that might be more usefully
employed. Even in the pursuit of really important
objects it is unwise to become so deeply involved
emotionally that the thought of possible failure
becomes a constant menace to peace of mind.
Christianity taught submission to the will of God,
and even for those who cannot accept this
phraseology there should be something of the same
kind pervading all their activities. Efficiency in a
practical task is not proportional to the emotion
that we put into it; indeed, emotion is sometimes an
obstacle to efficiency. The attitude required is that
of doing one’s best while leaving the issue to fate.
Resignation is of two sorts, one rooted in despair,
the other in unconquerable hope. The first is bad;
the second is good. The man who has suffered such
fundamental defeat that he has given up hope of
serious achievement may learn the resignation of
despair, and, if he does, he will abandon all
serious activity. He may camouflage his despair by
religious phrases, or by the doctrine that