I believe with all my heart that my happiness is directly measured by my own sense of gratitude. The more grateful I am, the greater my happiness seems to be and the greater my ability to succor others. My lack of gratitude sucks at my ability to fill my own needs and leaves me quite incapable of serving the needs of others causing discouragement, discontentment and depression. The more discouraged I am, the less organized, more chaotic and disgruntled I become. I become so unhappy and wonder why, ……. only to realize how I have distanced myself from God. I repent and begin (again and again) to recognize without His sweet spirit in my life, I become the “nothing” that encompasses my discouragement, discontentment and depression. I (struggle to) begin to think of the happiness of others (and struggle again and again to) ignore my own unhappiness and find purpose in “doing for others” which begins to dissolve the feelings of discouragement, discontentment and depression. I discover (again and again---I believe it is a cycle) that my sense of purpose and giving of myself seems to combat my strong sense of selfishness that displays itself as discouragement, discontentment and depression. I find, for me, if I can always remember to serve quietly and regularly, I can stay on a fairly even keel striving for selflessness.
Happiness is an attitude I want to choose everyday when I get up in the morning. I can choose to be happy—to embrace it or reject it. I may be simplistic, but it works ever so well for me. Happiness IS an attitude of gratitude.
I am still working on the perfect recipe. It is a continual life-long pursuit.
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