From My Perspective - - -
It seems we all have the potential for making a deliberate choice to (a) Be Happy, or (b) Be Sad (or Miserable). All kinds of books written by Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Clergy discuss the subject of Being Happy and Finding Happiness. Some of the titles are: The Secret of Happiness (Billy Graham); The Be-Happy Attitudes (Robert Schuller); or Climb Your Stairway to Heaven: The 9 Habits of Maximum Happiness (David Leonhardt).
The Mayor of Durham, NC came up with a unique idea by linking with Nickelodeon as it begins a celebration today of the 10th anniversary of Sponge-Bob Square-Pants. The headline reads: Mayor Declares A Day Of Happiness. As part of Nickelodeon’s celebration, the network has proclaimed July 17th, the first Global Day of Happiness. The proclamation reads that “…a day in honor of happiness is most appropriate due to the current affairs within our nation…The day will help recognize simple pleasures, like a smile -- the more in tune with one's happiness, the more one is inspired to commit good deeds.” It adds that “mental health is a worldwide issue, and happiness increases confidence, and self-esteem -- which leads to success, and a healthy lifestyle.” So there you have it – the searched for secret of happiness – and all it took was “…that absorbent, yellow fellow who lives in a pineapple under the sea and The Ultimate Sponge-Bob Sponge-Bash Weekend." Isn’t that an easy approach?
Perhaps – too easy! All kinds of people have attempted to offer a brief statement to define what happiness is and how it can be attained or maintained. Perhaps the most brief one was by Charles Schulz: Happiness Is A Warm Puppy. A few other expressions are by - Helen Keller: True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose; Mahatma Gandhi: Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony; Hugh Downs: A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes; Mark Twain: Happiness ain't a thing in itself--it's only a contrast with something that ain't pleasant; Socrates: By all means marry: If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher; Steven Covey: Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.
Declaring a Day Of Happiness is fanciful - but suppose you could have A Lifetime Of Happiness – which one would you choose or want more? On the website, Reference.com, the following is stated: “While direct measurement of happiness is difficult, tools such as The Oxford Happiness Inventory have been developed by researchers. Looking for the level of happiness as reported by people and comparing it to various elements in their lives reveals the following findings: (1) About 50% of one's sadness depends on one's genes. This is shown by studying identical twins and learning that their happiness is 50% correlated even when growing up in different houses; (2) 10% to 15% percent is a result of various measurable variables, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, health, income, and others; (3) the remaining 40% results from actions that individuals deliberately engage in for the purpose of becoming happier. However, these actions may vary between persons. For example, extroverts may benefit from placing themselves in situations involving large amounts of human interaction. Also, exercise has been shown to increase one's level of well-being significantly.”
In place of Happiness, one might fin Joy to be more beneficial. Happiness depends on Happenings (variable circumstances that can be either sad or happy), whereas Joy depends upon a Relationship. In John 15:9-11 Jesus said: “Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may overflow.” A lifetime of Joy versus occasional Happiness – the choice should be obvious. Go with Joy! Go with Jesus! Consider these things with me!
It seems we all have the potential for making a deliberate choice to (a) Be Happy, or (b) Be Sad (or Miserable). All kinds of books written by Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Clergy discuss the subject of Being Happy and Finding Happiness. Some of the titles are: The Secret of Happiness (Billy Graham); The Be-Happy Attitudes (Robert Schuller); or Climb Your Stairway to Heaven: The 9 Habits of Maximum Happiness (David Leonhardt).
The Mayor of Durham, NC came up with a unique idea by linking with Nickelodeon as it begins a celebration today of the 10th anniversary of Sponge-Bob Square-Pants. The headline reads: Mayor Declares A Day Of Happiness. As part of Nickelodeon’s celebration, the network has proclaimed July 17th, the first Global Day of Happiness. The proclamation reads that “…a day in honor of happiness is most appropriate due to the current affairs within our nation…The day will help recognize simple pleasures, like a smile -- the more in tune with one's happiness, the more one is inspired to commit good deeds.” It adds that “mental health is a worldwide issue, and happiness increases confidence, and self-esteem -- which leads to success, and a healthy lifestyle.” So there you have it – the searched for secret of happiness – and all it took was “…that absorbent, yellow fellow who lives in a pineapple under the sea and The Ultimate Sponge-Bob Sponge-Bash Weekend." Isn’t that an easy approach?
Perhaps – too easy! All kinds of people have attempted to offer a brief statement to define what happiness is and how it can be attained or maintained. Perhaps the most brief one was by Charles Schulz: Happiness Is A Warm Puppy. A few other expressions are by - Helen Keller: True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose; Mahatma Gandhi: Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony; Hugh Downs: A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes; Mark Twain: Happiness ain't a thing in itself--it's only a contrast with something that ain't pleasant; Socrates: By all means marry: If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher; Steven Covey: Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.
Declaring a Day Of Happiness is fanciful - but suppose you could have A Lifetime Of Happiness – which one would you choose or want more? On the website, Reference.com, the following is stated: “While direct measurement of happiness is difficult, tools such as The Oxford Happiness Inventory have been developed by researchers. Looking for the level of happiness as reported by people and comparing it to various elements in their lives reveals the following findings: (1) About 50% of one's sadness depends on one's genes. This is shown by studying identical twins and learning that their happiness is 50% correlated even when growing up in different houses; (2) 10% to 15% percent is a result of various measurable variables, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, health, income, and others; (3) the remaining 40% results from actions that individuals deliberately engage in for the purpose of becoming happier. However, these actions may vary between persons. For example, extroverts may benefit from placing themselves in situations involving large amounts of human interaction. Also, exercise has been shown to increase one's level of well-being significantly.”
In place of Happiness, one might fin Joy to be more beneficial. Happiness depends on Happenings (variable circumstances that can be either sad or happy), whereas Joy depends upon a Relationship. In John 15:9-11 Jesus said: “Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may overflow.” A lifetime of Joy versus occasional Happiness – the choice should be obvious. Go with Joy! Go with Jesus! Consider these things with me!
1 comment:
Thank you for the thoughts on happiness and joy. Of course we have chosen Joy in Christ, who in turn makes our hearts glad - happy, despite the the circumstances, difficult or not. Joy is fruit alongside love, peace, patience etc... so happiness is evidence maturity of the Spirit's fruit in us, just as is sweetness, calmness, security among others.
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