Description
Happiness the key to success.
As we live in unprecedented times right now, many people are experiencing unhappiness, some for the first time. If I'm honest, I've gone through feelings of sadness even depression recently that I've never known before.
So what can and should we do about it? Well, I've decided to look into why happiness is the way God designed us to be and how being happy is related to our success.
This week I purchased a new domain name, uberhappylife.com, and plan to use this as a resource centre to help others leave any sadness or depression in their past, as I intend to do just that.
Joy or Happiness?
Some people talk about joy as the only thing that really matters and that happiness is just a "nice to have", but isn't a priority in life. They might say, "Happiness is only temporary", but I would say, "what's wrong with temporary happiness"? If you get to go away for the weekend with your family and enjoy a short break, that's wonderful, even if there are things you need to deal with once the weekend is over, you're going to do this from a better place than if you'd spent the weekend complaining and unhappy.
So why is happiness the key to success? Well firstly, an oppressed mind does not think right, there are not a lot of things being invented by depressed people. Your mind has to be in a certain state for you to produce.
Happiness can get knocked in some churches, but I don't believe the bible teaches that God is opposed to your happiness, but quite the opposite is true. If we look at Jesus as our example, one thing we notice is that He made people happy, He made the blind see, a mother's son raised back to life made her very happy.
Some people mistakenly relate a stern, serious look as if it is more spiritual, they say, "Let's pray", and then put on a mean face as if this is the spiritual thing to do. We mustn't take our example from these people but from Jesus who was full of happiness and joy.
Things are for our enjoyment.
The bible shows us God way in 1 Timothy 6:17: As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
There you have it, God doesn't take things away from us, He gives, and does it for our enjoyment. God did not create this life to be endured; He created it to be enjoyed. Another well-know bible verse says; that God came that we may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows. (John 10:10).
What happens when we complain?
An unhappy person actually irritates God, because your unhappiness is going to lead you to complain. As the Israelites escaped Egypt, they journeyed from Mount Hor, to go around the land of Edom, and the people became impatient, depressed, and much discouraged, because of the trials of the way. (Numbers 21:4) so here we see a biblical example of complaining lead people into trouble.
Unhappiness and complaining go together, lead to trouble, and is a violation of what God commanded us to do, but we can replace with Joy and peace, which also go together, and will lead us to success.
Build happiness because sorrow builds itself.
There is no effort needed for sorrow to continue in our lives if we don't make positive steps towards being happy it doesn't happen, we don't just fall into happiness, it takes effort, but sorrow is automatic, so you must build your happiness before sorrow builds itself.
If you are happy then you are at your best, you will be your best when you are happy, you will achieve more and be more productive from a positive happy place, and this is exactly where we need to stay, happy, productive, and successful.
Roy Clayton