If you asked several individuals what truly defines their happiness in life, what answers do you think you would get?
I assume included in those responses would probably be some trivial answers.
The intrinsic moments throughout life that bring gratefulness to the soul can easily be forgotten. The truth is that all humans try to avoid those “mood changing experiences” as much as possible. Those moments when our car gets a flat tire, when the house desperately needs dusted and swept, when your paycheck wasn’t as much as you expected, and the loads of dirty laundry need to be washed.
But have you ever stopped to think…
- You can reprogram your mind to think of those moments as ones such as this: For a flat tire, at least I have a running car that’s able to get a flat every now and then. No big deal.
- Dirty house = homeowner = a safe place to live and rest at night.That’s certainly something to be grateful for!
- When you have a sink full of dishes, that surely means you have food in you refrigerator, which also means that you have enough money to pay for food to eat at the table. Yes, it should be cleaned. But doing it with a grateful heart is the key.
- Laundry: I am just going to say that in other third-world countries (that I have been fortunate enough to experience) they literally have no clothes. So when I do laundry, I do not complain, I am just grateful that I actually have clothes to clean.
When you define your happiness, do it in such a way that makes you grateful for the things we consider unpleasant. Let’s challenge ourselves in those unexpected moments of chaos to find the positive and have a different, positive outlook on these situations. You’ll be amazed at how your perspective becomes revolutionized when you have a thankful heart. Ultimately we decide daily whether or not we are going to choose joy in the midst of not-so-great moments.
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” {Psalm 118:24}
Sadly, some people only find joy when it’s payday. Some people only have happiness with being able to spend, spend, spend from paycheck to paycheck. Then perhaps they can go buy that new car or that awesome new dress they’ve been eyeing. Or the individuals who only find happiness when they get to go on their next vacation. But until that wonderful moment of vacation time, they live life as a “negative nancy.” And during vacation time, they will hopefully ease down and find their tranquility. But what are they living for? This ever-so-quick moment of happiness from materialistic items or the long-awaited one week vacation for that short-lived happiness.
Guess what?
There’s a better way of living than just the pursuit of temporary pleasure from time-to-time.
What I have found in life, is that even during the “cloudy days” there is still a way to find joy in the blessings that can be found all around us. We all have trying and stressful seasons or days to endure; but because of those times, I can still look up and say, “Thank you God. I am still blessed.”
Realizing that I can still be grateful for the little things that are commonly forgotten among so many and that I can wake up and breath because there is a God that created me with the capacity to inhale and exhale oxygen, that I have the ability to smile because my God’s blessings outweigh any flat tire, small paycheck, or sink of dirty dishes is enough reason to have thankfulness in my heart.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” {Psalm 16:11}