Every human wants to be happy and find happiness. And we seek it out in so many ways and pursue it so relentlessly. But so few truly find this most elusive prize. Those we deem as cruel and greedy and selfish also seek happiness. Some think money brings it, or power, or revenge. Some try all manner of pleasures believing happiness hides itself in physical pleasures of all manner. But happiness is not pleasure nor found therein or thereby. Pleasure though, is often a companion of happiness, when happiness comes first. So one can find pleasure in happiness but not happiness in pleasure. Odd. But true enough. There’s an old country song with this line in it, “Looking for love in all the wrong places!” Same with happiness. So few people seem genuinely happy or content. How are believers to be joyful as we are admonished when joy is even beyond happiness (IMO)? Happiness is a fruit of the spirit led life I think. The secular and material world cannot deliver happiness. It does not come from the outside in – pleasure, money, power. But, rather, it flows from the inside out. Happiness comes from alignment of wills I think….ours with the spirit’s. I wonder too if pessimists can be happy?
“Sure, I’m happy….now. But surely something will happen to ruin it all soon enough….you’ll see!”
I’ve always been blessed with a sunny disposition, a blue skied optimist born and raised. No disappointment, no matter how great (and there’s been so so many) kept me down for long. Why so? How so? Why not all? How do optimists remain so throughout tragedy, deprivation, even horrific situations? And why are some with wealth and no want so unhappy? Sheryl Crowe sang a song – “If it makes you happy, then why the “heck” are you so sad?” Why do some keep doing that which has failed so completely to bring happiness?…the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same dumb thing believing it’ll be different next time! All want to be happy but not so many become so.
I look forward to an investigation into the nature of happiness, its source and purpose. Is it a reward for good choices? Or our natural state? Little children seem so happy. What happens? Where does our early happiness go? How do we get it back? Where is happiness?
(1134.3) 103:5.5 Human happiness is achieved only when the ego desire of the self and the altruistic urge of the higher self (divine spirit) are co-ordinated and reconciled by the unified will of the integrating and supervising personality. The mind of evolutionary man is ever confronted with the intricate problem of refereeing the contest between the natural expansion of emotional impulses and the moral growth of unselfish urges predicated on spiritual insight — genuine religious reflection.
(1097.7) 100:4.3 But the great problem of religious living consists in the task of unifying the soul powers of the personality by the dominance of LOVE. Health, mental efficiency, and happiness arise from the unification of physical systems, mind systems, and spirit systems. Of health and sanity man understands much, but of happiness he has truly realized very little. The highest happiness is indissolubly linked with spiritual progress. Spiritual growth yields lasting joy, peace which passes all understanding.
(1766.6) 159:3.10 You shall not portray your teacher as a man of sorrows. Future generations shall know also the radiance of our joy, the buoyance of our good will, and the inspiration of our good humor. We proclaim a message of good news which is infectious in its transforming power. Our religion is throbbing with new life and new meanings. Those who accept this teaching are filled with joy and in their hearts are constrained to rejoice evermore. Increasing happiness is always the experience of all who are certain about God.
"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
