Secrets to Su Shi’s Happiness under Any Circumstances: Transcending and a Positive Perspective

What have endeared Su Shi to countless followers in nearly a thousand years all over the world lie not only in his outstanding achievements in literary and arts, but also in his optimism in adversity. This paper probes into the insight secrets of why he could be happy most of the time to enlighten people nowadays to lead a happy, easy and peaceful life. Firstly, transcending constantly through keeping adjusting his expectations in accordance with the everchanging circumstances: transcending conventions to realize his people-oriented ambition when he was a young official; transcending material limitations when he was exiled for the first time to Huangzhou; transcending fame and power when he was back to court with great power; transcending himself when he was exiled for the second time to Huizhou and finally transcending everything when he was banished to the most remote Danzhou on Hainan Island; and secondly, seeing every circumstance in a positive light: overlooking the negative and magnifying the positive; indulging himself in the beauty of the nature; enjoying the present moment and being optimistic about the future without thinking.