Mohney: Why not choose to be happy?

Bible ctfpwb
Bible ctfpwb

It was a moment of spiritual growth for me when I realized that happiness is not just circumstantial. It is true that a new car, a piece of furniture or a special birthday celebration can bring temporary happiness. Authentic happiness comes from a decision, a mindset. As a Christian, it starts with a life commitment to Jesus Christ and continues as you live out that commitment.

You can choose to be happy.

photo Nell Mohney

What are the elements of happiness? One of the most powerful secrets is gratitude. Gratitude opens our hearts to God, to life, to others; ingratitude snaps them shut. Ingratitude produces whiners and complainers. Gratitude is an antidote for worry, depression and grief. It enables us to become more balanced and to have the peace that passes understanding.

Happy people live by the motto, "Learn from the past; live fully today; and trust God for the future." In living fully, happy people live with enthusiasm and hope for the future. Leaders in almost every endeavor have affirmed the value and potency of hope.

In his classic work "Walden," Henry David Thoreau suggests that hope allows us to reach out and grasp the future. He wrote, "I learned this by my experiment, that if one advances confidently toward his dream and endeavors to live out the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours."

A happy person takes care of body, mind and spirit. That means eating nutritionally, exercising at least three times a week, getting sufficient sleep, having a yearly physical exam, and learning to laugh easily. The Bible encourages laughter. It was King Solomon who said: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

Most important for Christians, Jesus modeled prayer and regular worship and said: "I have said these things to you that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full" (John 15:11). Happiness is a gift from God, but we have to choose to accept the gift.

Contact Nell Mohney at nellwmohney@comcast.net.

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