All of us want to be happy, but most of us can’t define it.
Our happiness pursuit takes us down a long winding trail that leads to a train wreck of emotions. We now define happiness for ourselves as if it can be held by our temporary motivations or what makes us happy at the time.
The Happiness Hoax
If happiness is only defined by pleasurable pursuits, then who should, in fact, be happy?
After all, if one man’s pleasure is carjacking or armed robbery for the adrenaline rush, who are we to keep him from this inalienable happiness pursuit?
Associating our happiness with how we feel in the moment creates a flimsy facade where the exterior may please us, but its emptiness leaves us longing in dire need for something else.
We then find ourselves drowning in addictions, depression–always chasing after something that can please us just a little longer with a right now mentality.
The Happiness Pursuit
Is it possible to come on, get happy?
Though the catchy tune is fun and nostalgic, our happiness pursuit takes much more than just a mindset.
Our founding fathers certainly knew the difference. When penning to the page the now distorted “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” they held themselves accountable to a greater authority than their own.
endowed by their Creator
[Tweet “Happiness is found within the heart of our purpose–endowed by our Creator.”]
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord! Psalm 144:15
What about you?
Have you found the everlasting happiness you’ve been searching for?
Share your comments
Hi Mitzi! I am your neighbor at Three Word Wednesday.
Very interesting post on happiness. I loved your example of “happiness is a carjacking”, that sure puts it in perspective, doesn’t it? The Founding Fathers had it right. Happiness is found in the Creator.
I know I have found my everlasting happiness. But I still have to remind myself of that from time to time. Being a human makes remembering that hard!
Nice to meet you today!
Ceil
Mitzi,
It’s always fun to teach fifth-graders about the preamble – because they go right into examples of what pursuit of happiness is… You, thank-you-very-much, cut right to the chase with the ‘rest of the story’. So needed! Thank you.
Janet
thanks, Janet! I can’t imagine the many ideas from a 5th grade point of view 🙂
Love the frankness of your writing- a truth so needed in a world that seems to think happiness is a matter of what dysfunctional emotions feel at the time. Just stopped in from Three Word Wednesday and loved it.
thanks, Lauren! happy you stopped by 🙂
Love the throwback to the Partridges, Mitzi! And yes, happiness is this elusive thing we sometimes chase. It’s crazy and liberating when we figure out it can’t be attained by the chase!
Hi, Mitzi! I’m visiting via Simply Beth and Three Word Wednesday. I think you said it all with “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Sometimes my “god” is shopping or a meal out or accolades at work. These come and go, of course. But the deep satisfaction of knowing God keeps us…dare I say it–Happy–even when the circumstances aren’t viewed as such. Love your title, The Happiness Hoax. Will hopefully come again. God Bless!
thanks, Diane! hope you’ll visit again soon 🙂
I am always pursuing happiness. But I know that happiness is fleeting, momentary. Only the JOY that comes from the Lord will last. Visiting from Three Word Wednesday.
Mitzi, I may be signing that tune today. 🙂 Loved what you shared on the pursuit of happiness. And it so true, those things we think will bring us happiness or so momentary. Our everlasting joy comes from the Lord. Thank you for linking up for Three Word Wednesday every week!! Many blessings.
Hmmm…I’m going to have to check out Three Word Wednesday!
What a great post, Mitzi. I love the idea that crime might make the criminal happy. Really, all you have to do is look into the face of an alcoholic or a drug addict to know where the futile search for happiness can lead you.
Because my focus word for 2013 was contentment, you can guess that I’ve been on a “happiness” kick. God taught me that happiness is fleeting but His joy is eternal. I’ll choose eternal any day!
Oh, and thanks for the recurring melody in my head 🙂