Don't wait for happiness

"If just doing the right thing would make you happy, everyone at church would be just peachy.  After all, church attendance is a right thing.  But you can’t just go through the motions to become happy.  You must give your all to the right things."

It’s natural to think life would be better if only we had something we don’t now have.  We think, I'll be happy when ______ .  You can fill in the blank.

And many do.  Some think they’ll be happy when they get a new job or a new house.  Some marrieds fill that blank with a new baby.  Many singles fill that blank with getting married.

These thoughts are natural, and that’s why they ultimately don’t lead to happiness.  Happiness never comes from following the inclinations of the natural man or woman.  Those inclinations turn your focus inward on yourself.

But true happiness requires you to turn your focus outward on others and contributing to make their lives better.  The more of yourself you give in that endeavor, the happier you become.  And because you can always contribute to others in some way, you don’t have to wait for happiness.

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Avoid the “happiness” trap

Often we place too many conditions on our happiness.  By thinking we can’t be happy unless we possess something — be it some material object, social status, or notable achievement — we equate happiness with possessing that something.

And that’s the first part of the trap.  As long as you don’t possess whatever that something is, you’ll be unhappy.  And because true happiness comes from what you give rather than possess, fulfillment will always elude you.

The second part of the trap comes by thinking you must possess your something because your life plan says it’s “right.”  After all, how can you be happy when your life isn’t what you want it to be?

Many singles get caught in this second part of the trap.  Thinking you need to have that special someone to be happy is self-defeating.  If you’re not happy now, you’re not likely to attract that special someone.  People generally don’t want to spend ten minutes let alone their entire life with negative emotions like unhappiness.

Not getting what you think you need to be happy then just feeds the cycle to continue.  And releasing your wanting will be hard so long as your life plan tells you it’s “right” to keep wanting it, further reinforcing the cycle.

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Find your freedom

But you don’t have to be trapped.  You can free yourself by changing your thinking.  Quit waiting for some condition to be met.  Start understanding the true source of happiness, and start making more effective choices.

Happiness comes from giving your all to the right things.  Long-time audience members know the right things are more than just keeping the standards.  Of course those standards are right for everyone.  But the right things also include your unique contribution to improve the lives of others.

And you can’t just do your right things and expect to be happy.  It's what you bring to what you do while doing the right things that produces happiness.  It’s how much of yourself you give willingly to doing your right things.

If just doing the right thing would make you happy, everyone at church would be just peachy.  After all, church attendance is a right thing.  But you can’t just go through the motions to become happy.  You must give your all to the right things.  That’s why those who contribute while attending church are always happy.  They’re giving their all to their right things.

Likewise, simply acting out your part during the marriage ceremony won’t make you happy, however "right" that marriage may be.  What will make you happy is bringing your all to that union.  Happiness comes from giving your all to the things that are right for you.

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Be happy now

Here’s the best part about this definition of happiness.  You don’t need to wait to be happy.  In His tender mercies, the Lord has placed within your reach the things that are right for you now.  You can choose to change your thinking so that you can see your right things all around you.  And you can choose to give your all in embracing those right things.

When it comes to being happy, you don’t need to wait.  You don’t need a change in your situation.  You need a change in your thinking and then you just need to choose to be happy.

Don’t sacrifice the joy of today by focusing on a future that always seems elusive.  Focus instead on the contribution you can make today.  You can be happy now if you align your thinking and your actions with the true source of happiness.  When you give your all to contribute to others in the way that’s right for you, you’ll feel that happiness come into your own life.  And that will bring you more joy in your journey.

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You can listen to the monologue from today's episode of Joy In The Journey Radio here.  Please also feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Want to hear more?  Listen to the whole show by going to the show page for this episode!