Caution, reading this may cause lasting Happiness!
John Lennon’s mom taught him at an early age that the purpose of life was to find happiness. In John’s early school years, his grade 1 teacher gave the class an assignment, to write down what they wanted to be when they grew up. John wrote: “I want to be happy!” To this, the teacher said, “Johnnie, I think you misunderstood the assignment”, to which he responded “No teacher, I think you misunderstand life!” And so began the journey of the great John Lennon.
So if happiness is the goal of life, how do we find it?
An Amazon truck was spotted in the US with words painted on the side that read: “Caution… contents may cause happiness.” Cute, right? But let’s be real. Do we look to things to bring us happiness ? Do we say, “when I get that new pair of jeans, or gadget, or new job, I’ll be happy? Sometimes, right?
For a time, these things DO make us happy. But then what happens. The joy sooner than later fades. And we need something else to fill the gap or void.
Let’s analyze what happens to us emotionally and physiologically when we finally get an item of desire. We relax! We have a sense of peace and the thrill of accomplishment, like “I’ve got it now!” It’s the feeling that brings the happiness, not the item. Because once that feeling fades, we’re onto the next new thing to get the feeling again.
Don’t get me wrong. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the things themselves; we should strive for what we want. It’s the spice of life and adventure. But why not seek lasting happiness rather than ride the waves of life’s continuous ups and downs?
What’s one way? Make someone else happy! I’ve preached this saying for years: Givers are happy, takers are not. It is true. It is Universal Law, that when you think of others, they think of you, and God thinks of you too. Your life becomes blessed and your own cup of happiness mysteriously becomes filled; regardless of circumstance.
Doing something nice for another gives us the same feeling we have when we receive that Amazon package. Seeing the joy in another from something we did or said. So I leave you with a small but important task. Each day, do one nice thing for someone else. It doesn’t have to be grand. Think of someone else before you think of yourself. You will begin to feel your own sense of peace and happiness bubbling up inside of you.
A famous individual once said: “A person completely wrapped up in himself makes a small package.” Moral? Be nice! Live large! And you won’t just find lasting happiness. You’ll be making the world a better place, one soul at a time, one day at a time.
Yours in wellness, Elisabeth