 |
|
What are You Willing to do to be Happy?
Orginally published on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 8:33 AM
by Todd Rhoades
An interesting article from Oprah.com. (I can see the watchdoggies having a heyday with this one... MMI is now quoting Oprah. Whatever.) Anyway... here it is: "Are you truly happy? Where you live, what you do and how much sex you have just might be the answer! The biggest complainer Oprah knows is her makeup artist Reggie Wells. After a recent "Oprah Show," he agreed to take Pastor Will Bowen's complaint-free challenge. Reggie wears a purple wristband, and every time he utters a complaint, he has to change the wrist he wears it on. How did he do? Oprah says Reggie "complained so much that he was getting whiplash from changing [wrists]."
Here are bits and pieces of the article:
Dr. Robert Holden, author of “Happiness Now” says chronic complainers like Reggie actually live in fear of happiness. Their condition—which he dubs “happy-chondria”—is based on a belief that any happiness carries an eventual fall and price.
Dr. Holden says the key to being happy is overcoming “destination addiction,” which he defines as “living in the not-now.” “It’s always about tomorrow, so you’re chasing ‘more,’ ‘next’ and ‘there,’” he says. “You promise yourself that when you get there, you’ll be happy. And I promise you, you won’t, because you’ll always set another destination to go for.” Instead, Dr. Holden says if you are unhappy with your life or looking to improve your score on the satisfaction test, there are two things you can do. “We have to learn to let go of our past, we have to give up all hopes for a perfect past. Let the past go, it’s gone.” After that, he says, “Take a vow of kindness. Be kinder to yourself and to others. “It’s never too late to be happy,” he says.
Sounds like a little bit of gobbledygook to me. But this article raises a couple of good questions:
1. What makes you happy? When are you happiest?
2. Is it possible to find true happiness outside of Christ?
What do you think?
This post has been viewed 565 times so far.
There are 6 Comments:
I'm a chronic workaholic, love to connect leaders with other leaders, and would consider myself somewhat of a 'maven'. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you'll like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step.
MondayMorningInsight.com | PO Box 446 | Bryan, OH 43506 |
-
Posted by Peter Hamm
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 9:39 AM
-
Posted by
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:05 AM
-
Posted by
Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 11:41 AM
-
Posted by Andy Wood
Friday, February 22, 2008 at 12:10 AM
-
Posted by
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 12:52 PM
-
Posted by Andy Wood
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Post Your Comments:Well… work makes me happy. Seeing people start to realize what Jesus can do in their lives and others lives does. So does taking photos, playing guitar, talking with my best friend (my wife), and snow.
I’ve known some people who were pretty happy without Jesus… I think… which always makes me wonder.
But…
Consider the lilies…
“2. Is it possible to find true happiness outside of Christ?”
It is possible to find happiness outside of Christ. Before I was saved, there were plenty of things that made me happy, normal and sinful alike. I would even say that my dog is happy when I come home and pet him.
But the joy and peace that transcends understanding? That is only available in Christ.
And picking out from articles via Oprah? Dude, you deserve the ribbing you get for that one. =)
--
CS
I think that Dr. Holden’s comment about people being unhappy for chasing tomorrow could be likened to Christians who are determined that this life must be miserable, and they are just waiting for glory in heaven. I remember hearing a preacher say “if you are miserable here, why are you surprised, it’s supposed to be that way this side of heaven.”
Yes, I know many non-believers who are very happy, who enjoy life, and not just sinful practices, but things that are given by God for His creation to enjoy . . . their families, their community, sports, recreation, sun, moon, stars, beauty . . . things Christ followers sometimes miss if we become too consumed by being “in the battle.”
Wendi
For me, happiness is definitely in the journey, so long as it is a journey SOMEWHERE, and at least occasionally, actually GETS THERE.
Jesus makes it clear in the Beatitudes that real happines flies in the face of conventional wisdom ("Happy are the poor?” Hardly. Not in this country.)
There is a saying in Recovery - “We claim progress, not perfection.” That alone helps chronic complainers relax a bit, if they can actually see some measure of progress.
I’m happy and fulfiilled in Jesus. Serving Him and seeing others come to faith and maturity in Him truly makes me happy.
As for happiness outside of Christ, of course it’s possible. I believe what Christ offers is more than happiness. It’s contentment which is much deeper. Having said that though, it may even be possible for people to have contentment apart from Christ if they don’t know even have an awareness that something deeper is missing from their life. Once the awareness comes, then I think people do start searching for something deeper.
pmp68 - I have often remarked that the most miserable people in the world are Christians. Nonbelievers often don’t know any better ("ignorance is bliss"). But believers who are “living below their privilege” or beyond their identity in Christ often know - painfully - that something is missing.
It’s also amazing to me that in our pursuit of happiness, believers often pursue the empty answers that 1 John 2:16 ascribes to the world - pleasure, prosperity, and pride. Churches often measure their success by the same standards.
Great insights...thanks!
Page 1 of 1 pages