Happiness for the unhappy

    

   I’ve been thinking a lot about being happy lately.  "Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness", is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the "unalienable rights" which the Declaration says has been given to all human beings by their Creator, and for which governments are created to protect.” God’s own son, Jesus,  spoke of being happy at Matthew 5: 3-12. He listed nine things that would make people happy and then he said “Rejoice and be overjoyed,”. 

 Life in this current system of things, controlled by the devil often makes being happy difficult. I think that’s why you often find so many trying to encourage others to be happy and find happiness. You could peruse social media sites and find people posting dozens of ‘inspirational’ ‘happiness’ quotes every day. Of course what we pursue with the goal of happiness depends on our value system. As many will attest to, what we think will make us happy is not always what truly does make for happiness.

    What keeps spinning around in my mind is the idea of happiness being, as the Declaration of Independence speaks of as, an “unalienable right”.  I can’t help but wonder if it’s more than a right? And if happiness is not really dependent on circumstances or anything external, but rather the conscience choice of the individual to “be happy” then how can any government truly protect that right that is in the sole control of the individual themselves?

     I know that there are things that can rob us of a measure of joy or happiness. Things like death and sickness. However, I know that Jesus words there in Matthew indicate that even those things should not be able to take away true inner peace and happiness.

    What if being happy is not a privilege to be earned or even a ‘right’? What if, as I’m beginning to believe, it’s an integral part of our being. What if we were created with the NEED to be happy the same way we are created with the need to be loved or even to eat?

    I think every human on the planet pursues happiness whether they know it or not. I think we’re hard wired to do so. What worries me is what happens to a person who thinks they don’t deserve to be happy.  I often find individuals that for any number of reasons: guilt, genetics, upbringing or life experiences, often feel this way. I used to be one of those people.

     Speaking from experience, conversations and observation, I see that it is human nature to find things or experiences that make us feel good or happy. We eat foods that taste good to us. We wear clothes that either feel good on or make us feel like we look good. And we reject things that we find distasteful unless we believe that it is for our ultimate good even if there is something unpleasant about the experience.

   So what happens when a person thinks they don’t deserve to be happy? What happens when that negative voice inside our head starts condemning us and telling us, “Who do you think you are? What makes you worthy of that promotion? What makes you so special that that person should love you? Why do you deserve to be treated with tenderness and kindness? Why should you have that privilege? Why would that person respect you?” All those negative thoughts keep beating down our self esteem and feelings of self worth and then suddenly our hard wiring kicks in and we subconsciously start looking for something else to make us feel better, feel happy. We reach for that quart of ice cream, the pound of chocolate and the bag of chips. Or worse yet, we grab a bottle of alcohol, buy that expensive jewelry, flirt with that attractive but married co worker. Then what? We feel better for a little while but eventually the temporary high wears off and if we don’t find a way to value ourselves enough to believe we deserve to be happy we just keep looking for these lesser things in life to satisfy the unalienable NEED to be happy. I wonder if that isn’t the driving force for some who become addicted to drugs and alcohol. People just don’t want to hurt anymore but don’t feel worthy of true happiness from sources that carry greater value in their eyes so they turn to things that carry less value or merit.

    What would happen though if we recognized that being happy is as important as eating every day? What if, while we drank our morning cup of joe and ate that banana we thought about not just what we’ll wear to feel good but what we’ll do that will not only make us feel happy but that will actually build within us a greater sense of self worth? What if we understood that being UNhappy is not only bad for us but actually can lead to behavior that will hurt others and put a strain on our relationship with our family and friends? What if being happy, I mean truly being happy is an act of selflessness NOT selfishness?

    
     I wonder...