The Paradox of Happiness

Written by C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot


What isrepparttar definition of 'happiness?' Is it material wealth filled with fancy cars, a dream house, extravagant furs and jewelry? Or is happiness simply having a roof over your head? Food inrepparttar 101345 fridge? Having a child? A pet? A swimming pool? A designer Gucci bag? Parents? Grandchildren? Love? Money? The perfect job? Winningrepparttar 101346 Lottery?

According torepparttar 101347 American HeritageŽ Dictionary, 'happiness' is derived fromrepparttar 101348 Middle English word hap - meaning 'Luck.' But does happiness really have anything to do with 'luck?' Based on this description, one could assume that if you avoided a fatal traffic accident but got fired by coming late to work, you would be filled with 'happiness?' Is it luck or what you make of it? Maybe, 'happiness' is exactly defined by its indirect alias: happ iness - perhaps, happiness is in fact defined byrepparttar 101349 fortune that we permit to happen.

Do you recall a time....ah, let's say when you were about 5 years old - what defined happiness back then? Was it getting a puppy for Christmas? Or maybe, you were a child of divorce; and all you wanted was for Mom and Dad to get back together again? Then as you got older, you were hoping that someone would ask you torepparttar 101350 prom...that would've made your day, maybe your life...forrepparttar 101351 moment. During college, good grades made you happy, but it was short-lived. Because inrepparttar 101352 real world, you had to look for a job, and competition was stark. It's an employer's world....you thought. But then, you gotrepparttar 101353 perfect job - now you could be happy - or could you?

Life requires more than just what we want. Inevitably, one must understand to truly find 'happiness,' he must make his own happiness 'happen.' Sounds a bit redundant, but truthfully, there is no set guidelines that will bring one happiness. There is no 'magic wand' we can wave to bring joy into our lives. Human nature thrives onrepparttar 101354 thrill ofrepparttar 101355 chase. We dream and we hope forrepparttar 101356 next big break - it isrepparttar 101357 grand adventure of living.

We are hopeless creatures of comfort. We like having and accumulating things. Whether one admits to it or not, to a certain degree, we all try to keep up with 'the Jones.' We work so we can pay our rents, mortgages, credit card debts, school loans, car payments...the list goes on and on. And at some point, we realize, that aside from having most of what we want, we still aren't happy. Now since we've learned to adapt to new standards which we've created for ourselves, we find that we have less time, less patience, less sleep, which equates to more stress, more worry and more aggrivation. So, is happiness honestly just comprised of 'things?'

Sometimes, we virtually trade our lives for not only basic necessities, but for excessive items and services as well. We become so obcessed with finding happiness, that we lose sight ofrepparttar 101358 fact that happiness is within - always. Certainly you've heard of individuals trying to 'find themselves,' or 'rediscover themselves...' The reason they are attempting these innovative approaches is because they are seeking inner happiness. Butrepparttar 101359 point has been missed: Happiness is already there.

Trust Is ...

Written by Joyce C. Lock


Honoring God asrepparttar only One with all answers for our circumstances.

Seeking God for those answers.

Waiting for God's answer.

Listening for God's answer.

Receiving what God has revealed as all we yet need to know.

Walking in that faith.

Believing God will continue to give instruction, as needed.

Letting God dorepparttar 101344 rest.

Respectingrepparttar 101345 character of God knowing, when He gives a promise, He has to be faithful because God cannot lie.

Accountability in not calling God a liar.

Remembering what God has done for us already.

Accepting that God has proved Himself trustworthy to trust again.

Realizing we can even ask God for help with our unbelief.

Acknowledging that God is not a respecter of persons, that however He lovedrepparttar 101346 people of old, He actually wants to love us, too.

Recognizing whenever something touches our heart, that is God; as that is where He dwells.

Discovering that God will always dorepparttar 101347 most loving thing possible.

Puttingrepparttar 101348 weight ofrepparttar 101349 world back on God's shoulders, where it belongs.

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