The following is from the opening of the United States Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."
Although this is from a document for the United States, the following statement applies to EVERYONE, regardless of where they live: "Happiness is NOT a guarantee, nor is it a right of life!"
One can PURSUE happiness (and, in the U.S.A., that pursuit IS a right) but that does not mean that one is guaranteed to find and possess happiness.
This "pursuit of happiness" is something that seems to occupy a lot of time in people's lives as well as occupying a lot of space in written material.
Dictionary.com defines "happiness" as:
1. the quality or state of being happy; 2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.
This definition would cause us to have to look at the definition give for the word, "happy:
1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.
2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of
mind.
So, when considering your "pursuit of happiness", WHAT IS IT that you seek? Is it "good fortune"? Pleasure? Contentment? Joy?
What does "happiness" mean to/for you?
There are many answers to that question but, for the most part, there is but ONE answer for YOU! Now, there may be more than one "answer" that comes to mind when you consider what this means for you but, I'm convinced, that even these other "answers" will still revolve around one central thought for you.
Why do I bring that part up? Simple. What others define as "happiness" may not be YOUR definition and it may not be what would make YOU happy.
So, when considering your "pursuit of happiness", WHAT IS IT that you seek? Is it "good fortune"? Pleasure? Contentment? Joy?
What does "happiness" mean to/for you?
There are many answers to that question but, for the most part, there is but ONE answer for YOU! Now, there may be more than one "answer" that comes to mind when you consider what this means for you but, I'm convinced, that even these other "answers" will still revolve around one central thought for you.
Why do I bring that part up? Simple. What others define as "happiness" may not be YOUR definition and it may not be what would make YOU happy.
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You see, too often, we find ourselves trying to "live up to" other people's ideas of happiness. Make sense? We observe others and we usually make an assumption about what it is that seems to make them happy.
Sometimes, those that we observe may not be as happy as we think they are! Or, if they ARE, indeed, happy, we may be completely wrong in our assumption of what it is that makes them happy.
HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO AS WE START THIS SERIES:
* I want to ask that you take the time to consider what all of this means for your life. Get out a piece of paper and jot down your thoughts so that you can come back to them later on.
* Specifically, would you consider yourself "happy"? Maybe even use a scale of 1 (miserable) - 10 (you couldn't be any happier!) and place yourself along that scale. I do understand that this may even change from day to the next but, overall, where would you place yourself on that scale?
* What do you think would make you even happier than you are now? Write it down.
* Do you think that most others that you know (in your circle of friends) are happier than you are?
* If so, what is it that you think makes them happy?
* Go to the FYU Fanpage on Facebook and share your thoughts and comments as we go through this series - but go ahead and start now!
Thanks and I look forward to sharing out thoughts together as we continue with this series on "Happiness".
Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
Mike
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