The ancient Greek philosophers Epictetus claimed that take only path to happiness is to cease worrying about things which are beyond our power to change.
In Nigeria where people generally have greater connection with the natural world they are perhaps more in tune with the inevitable cycles of nature.
We have a philosophy in Nigeria which is very accepting, very accommodating. That is not to say we don't strive hard to make things better, but we do not worry ourselves so much if they do not happen.
Former US President Roosevelt once described happiness as the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort and in many societies people have become so focused on achievement that they sometimes lose sight of their limitations.
A good example of different national psyches came at this year's world cup. When some of the teams crashed out I'm the early rounds of the cup they flocked to the airports to catch early flights back home. Some countries went into state if national mourning.
In contrast, despite being dissapointed that the super eagles did not progress further, huge numbers of Nigerians fans quickly switched their allegiance to other nationals teams of their interest and carried on having the time of their lives.
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