Thursday Thought

What do you want in life? Some might say, "Money, popularity, to be in shape, to look glamorous, to have a family..." But why do you want it? I think the answer to this question more often than not is that people want to be happy. We as a people are looking for happiness. We look for happiness in money, social status, physical beauty, etc. When we obtain what we think will bring us happiness, we may find small moments of happiness but we don't find the lasting joy that is happiness.

One of my favorite quotes come from John Lennon. He said, "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life."

I think John Lennon had it right. I don't believe that money, possessions, or social status equate to happiness. That's not to say that people that have those things aren't happy. I believe that happiness is a choice, it is a state of mind, it is a conscious decision to see the good in the world and in our lives. The more you focus on the good around you and the less time you spend on the negative, the happier you will be. Do more of the things in life that make you happy.What makes you happy?

I feel happy when_____________.

I get enough sleep. I eat healthy food. I exercise. I accomplish a goal. I dance. I sing. I listen to music. I serve others. I am one with nature. Someone compliments me for a job well done. I look at the clouds. I watch the sunset. I hear birds chirping. It is pouring down rain outside. I spend quality time with the people I love. These things make me happy.