Good morning on this beautiful fall Saturday, November 21st. Tomorrow's sermon from Proverbs is entitled, A Joyful Spirit Vs. A Broken Spirit Is Good Medicine. Because of the nature of the topic, I thought I would supplement the sermon with this week's blog on the subject of happiness. Numerous studies have identified what makes happy people happy and non-happy people unhappy. Happy people:
1. Pursue growth and intimacy and spend the least time alone. They enjoy family and friends.
2. They don't measure themselves by what others do or have; they are not very materialistic. They do not live life "keeping up with the Jones."
3. They look on the bright side of things; they look for the positive in things instead of dwelling on the negative. The see the glass as half full instead of half empty.
4. They absorb themselves in activities which cause them to forget themselves, supersede worry, occupy their time and attention, and increase life satisfaction and fulfillment. These activities can be projects, work, hobbies, family activities, or anything which absorbs their attention. They find things which they do best and find satisfaction and enjoyment in growing in their strengths. They enjoy meaningful work and play.
5. Gratitude makes the difference in happy people. They don't take blessings for granted, frequently talk and write about them or express them in other ways, and take time to savor the moments of life's experience whether eating a good meal, enjoying the beauties of nature, or spending time with a friend or family member. They are constantly counting their blessings.
6. Happy people help others. Life is not all about themselves, but about others and their needs.
7. Contrary to common belief, happiness is not about getting what we want; it is about realizing that we are often better off when we don't get what we want and that in the grand scheme of things, many things which seem so important at the moment are not so in the long run. Happy people adapt well to the new realities of life.
These are not all of the happiness factors, but they are the top ones. Jesus gave us a wonderful prescription for happiness in the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12. Compare them to the above list for an interesting comparison and see what difference it makes when you inject the "God Factor."
Mel Brown