PRACTICE: Think of a person whom you believe exemplifies happiness.
If you want to shut down a dinner conversation, ask your dinner mates to define happiness and give a personal example of someone who personifies it. I am willing to bet that somewhere in their description, is a reference to the ease of their life (as they know it) or the honors and accolades they have accumulated or money.
I watched an artsy movie, “The air I breathe,” a few months ago. The movie explored happiness, sorrow, love, and pleasure. Here to tell you that the happy scenario would not measure up to my definition of the word. The character seeking happiness saw a money opportunity that he believed would bring full-fledged happiness and ended up in the belly of a whale called trouble.
Happiness is not skipping from one euphoric lily pad to another like a frog in a pond. Happiness cannot be learned from googling or reading a book. Happiness, like most desirable disciplines, requires a declaration to self to seek it, to become an apprentice of those in one’s inner circle who are good at being happy.
If ease of life, accolades, and money produced happiness, then why do the rich and famous, use drugs and alcohol to escape their reality as much or more than the poor? Perfection doesn’t make one happy. I contend that being happy is not solely dependent on comfort or achievements, it is about a belief in something or someone greater that self. Self can cause one to the believe that happiness is primarily dependent upon possessions, looks and what others think of me.
Happiness flows from happy thoughts about ourselves (imperfections included) AND our environment. It is more attainable when we set our sights on things that improve the potential for happiness -curbing aimlessness and compulsiveness, a rested body and spirit, shedding the garment of fretfulness and being mindful to live in the moment.
Do you “wanna be happy?” Not – repeat NOT – a happiness expert. I am a happy person. I know some happy people. At some point, they, like me, probably decided that happiness is a choice. They, like me, are in a relationship with a higher power, for me it is Jesus. They, like me, strive to keep an environment that is conducive to being happy. Sitting front and center in my kitchen, the primary gathering spot, is a sign that reads, “Welcome to this sanctuary, a drama free zone.” And they, like me, probably realized a long time ago that every day is not filled with blue skies and sunshine.
Phil. 4:11-12
PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Happiness is created from within.
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