Who doesn’t want to be happy?

But one must have a reason to be happy. In fact, your life must have meaning in order for you to be happy (according to psychiatrists, Viktor Frankl to be specific). Happiness is not something you can decide to have or work upon, and then you have it. It follows out of a life that has meaning. Therefore, happiness ensues – it cannot be pursued.

So what could give your life meaning? Is it money, my career, my spouse, my children, my church or what? Any of these could make you happy to a degree, as long as it lasts. It makes sense that if the cause for meaning in your life expires (e.g. you lose your job), one should immediately be able to switch to another cause if one is to stay happy. Wouldn’t it be preferable if the meaning in your life could come from something that cannot expire at all? 

Life only gets true and enduring meaning when you do not live it for selfish reasons. It must be for a reason bigger and longer lasting than yourself. Some people live for other people, for philanthropic reasons. This is a good way to happiness. 

The very condition of lasting happiness is that life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.

Hugh Black

The secret of happy life lies in renunciation. Renunciation is life.

Mahatma Gandhi

But there is even a better way. If you believe God has created you and that you live to honour and to glorify Him through your life, then your life has gained ever-lasting meaning. Happiness will ensue. 

The following three specific attitudes towards your circumstances in life are essential in helping you to find meaning, and therefore happiness, in your life:

• Thankfulness – being thankful for everything God has blessed you with. Do not take what you have, for granted. Thankfulness relates to your past. 
• Love – love God and your neighbour (those you are, at any given moment, in close proximity to). You cannot love someone, or God, yesterday or tomorrow – only now. Therefore, love relates to your present. Make the best of every opportunity.
• Faith – trust God for what is still to come. Worry, fear and even swearing all stem from a feeling of powerlessness. If you trust God, He will look after you and His power becomes yours. Faith relates to your future. 

Have a look how poor people succeed in being happy and you will find the elements of thankfulness, love and faith playing a major role in their lives. Therefore, you have even more opportunity to be happy!

It is also important to know that hurt from your past can prevent you from being happy. Do not try to just ignore those hurts, but get healing for them. A good place to start is to find a person you can trust to counsel you.

So if you are looking for happiness in your life, be thankful for the past, express love in every opportunity and trust God. Now that will put a smile on your face!

All articles on this blog, that are related to happiness, can be found here.