Happiness You can be rich and miserable. Happiness is a state of mind. Develop tools for how to get it. by Rabbi Noah Weinberg A young man once came to see me in Jerusalem. He had an unusually happy disposition, so I asked him whats his secret. He told me: When I was 11 years old, I received a gift of happiness from God. I was riding my bicycle when a strong gust of wind blew me onto the ground, into the path of an oncoming truck. The truck ran over me and cut off my leg. As I lay there bleeding, I realized that I might have to live the rest of my life without a leg. How depressing! But then I realized that being depressed wont get my leg back. So I decided right then and there not to waste my life despairing. When my parents arrived at the hospital they were shocked and grieving. So I told them: Ive already adapted. Now you also have to get used to this. Ever since then, I see my friends getting upset over little things: their bus came late, they got a bad grade on a test, somebody insulted them. But I just enjoy life. At age 11, this young man attained the clarity that it is a waste of energy to focus on what youre missing, and that the key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have. Sounds simple, doesnt it? Happiness is literally satisfaction with ones portion. Happiness is achievable. So why are so many people unhappy? We lack the right tools. Happiness is a State of Mind Western society commonly perceives happiness as the outcome of what you achieve and acquire. My whole life would improve if I had a new car... I just need a better job and then I can relax and be happy... If only could only meet the right girl... You get the car and what happens? For a whole week youre walking on air. Then you go right back to being unhappy. Sound familiar? Happiness is not a happening. Happiness is a state of mind. You can have everything in the world and still be miserable. Or you can have relatively little and feel unbounded joy. The Bible says: Who is rich? The one who appreciates what he has. Thats why the morning prayers begin with a series of blessings thanking God for the simple and obvious: Thank you, God, for giving me life. Thank God I can see. Thank God I can use my hands and feet. Thank God I can think. Once you master the art of noticing, appreciating and consciously enjoying what you already have, then you will always be happy. Make Your Troubles Insignificant You are standing on the 70th floor of the Empire State Building, gazing at the cityscape. Suddenly a rather large man brusquely pushes past you, wrenches the window open and announces his intention to jump. You yell out: Stop! Dont do it! The 6-foot-5 figure perched by the window turns to you and menacingly says, Try to stop me and Ill take you with me! Umm… No problem, sir. Have a safe trip. Any last words? He says, Let me tell you my troubles. My wife left me, my kids wont talk to me, I lost my job and my pet turtle died. So why should I go on living? Suddenly you have a flash of inspiration. Sir, close your eyes for a minute and imagine that youre blind. No colors, no sights of children playing, no fields of flowers, no sunset. Now imagine that suddenly theres a miracle. You open your eyes and your vision is restored! Are you going to jump – or will you stick around for a week to enjoy the sights? Ill stay for a week. But what happened to all the troubles? Ah, I guess theyre not so bad. I can see! An eyeball is worth at least 5 million dollars. You have two of them? Youre rich! If you really appreciate your eyesight, then the other miseries are nothing. Yet if you take it all for granted, then nothing in life will ever truly give you joy. 3 Misconceptions on the Road To Happiness Misconception #1: Once I know the tools for being happy, then it will work like magic. Dont expect the results to come automatically. It is possible to intellectually understand how to attain happiness, yet not put it into practice. In fact, many people might actually prefer to be comfortable and unhappy, rather than endure the discomfort of changing their habits. Just as learning any new skill requires effort, you have to be willing to invest serious effort to achieve real happiness. Misconception #2: If I become content and satisfied with what I have, Ill lose my motivation to achieve more. Happiness doesnt drain your energy. It adds more! Ask a happy person: I have a boat. Do you want to go fishing? Hell say: Great! Lets go! Now ask someone who is depressed: Cmon, lets go fishing! He says, Im tired. Maybe tomorrow. And anyway, it might rain... Happy people are energetic and ambitious. Theres never enough time to do everything they want to do. Misconception #3: Happiness is optional. If I want to be depressed, thats my own prerogative. A beautiful Sunday afternoon. Youre at the park having a picnic with your friends. Suddenly the air is pierced by one person complaining: Who forgot the forks? Its too hot for volleyball. I want to go home already. You have an obligation to be happy when your mood is negatively affecting others. Dont spoil the fun. We all try to put on a happy face when were at a party. But what about when were at home, with our kids? Or when we trudge into the office on Monday morning? Like an open pit in the middle of the road, a sour puss is a public menace. Being happy is part of being considerate to people around us. The Daily Pleasure Count To begin appreciating life, pinpoint some things you are extremely grateful for and count them every morning for one month – e.g. your eyes, your hands, your children, your cat. Set a time each day to contemplate these pleasures. Feel gratitude for them. This exercise can change the mood of even the most miserable amongst us. For instance, the next time you visit your aunt (the one who loves to complain), tell her very respectfully: Auntie, I came here to suffer with you today. But before we suffer, its only fair that you also share with me five pleasures that you had today. I had no pleasures. Auntie, did you have coffee for breakfast? Yes. Dont let her off the hook with this perfunctory answer. Make her share the pleasure. Was it sweet? Warm? Did the aroma linger? Did it give you energy? (Shell comply because she wants her turn to complain...) Okay, it was sweet. And nice. Great Auntie! Now four more! I didnt have any more. Did you wash your face? Was it pleasant? Warm? Refreshing? Relive it with her. Then another one. After she describes five pleasures, her complaints wont be nearly as bad. To really work at this, sit down with your spouse (or roommate) every evening and discuss one pleasure that each of you had that day. At the very least, youll have a happier spouse or roommate! Incorporate this into your family routine so your children also learn to appreciate their daily pleasures. The One-Hour Blessing-Fest The next exercise is more sophisticated. Spend one hour writing down everything for which you are grateful. Most people fly through the first 15 minutes. The next 15 minutes the pen moves more slowly. The next 15 minutes get even tougher, but you can pull through if you include your eyebrows and socks... The last 15 minutes are excruciating. Once the list is compiled, add one new blessing each day. The power of this exercise is clear: You must be conscious of all your existing blessings, in order to appreciate a new blessing that comes your way. Prioritize Your Blessings To really hone your skills and become an appreciation expert, prioritize your list. Which is more valuable: Your hands or your feet? Eyes or ears? Sense of taste or sense of touch? Comparing each pleasure forces you to qualify the subtle aspects of each pleasure. And to quantify how much each respective pleasure gives you. Follow this course and work at it daily. Your gratitude will continue to grow, building a solid foundation for a lifetime of happiness. WHY IS HAPPINESS A WAY TO WISDOM? Happiness is energy and power for living. Focus on what you have and youll be happy. Focus on what you dont have and youll be miserable. Happiness is not the goal in life; it is the means to tap your inner energy in order to accomplish your potential. Happy people are healthy, optimistic, and have more driving force to achieve. Happiness is not living in a state of semi-depression. Thats mere survival. Happiness is in your control. By not controlling it, you are slave to your emotions. Happiness requires discipline, determination and hard work. Happiness is not a happening. Dont wait for it to happen. Go out and create it. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 50-0200 HERE.WE.HAVE.NO.CONTINUING.CITY_ LITTLE.ROCK.AR E-38 But friends, it was just as paradise on earth. We had each other. Id become converted in that time, become a minister, and was preaching, and I loved the Lord with all my heart, and we loved one another. And thats all we cared for. And listen. Happiness does not consist of how much the worlds goods you own, but how contented you are with the portion thats allotted to you. Thats right. Remember that. Thats all we had. We were happy and lovely. 54-0301 THE.ANGEL.OF.THE.COVENANT_ PHOENIX.AZ MONDAY_ E-43 Oh, I tell you, the thing... Christians dont realize the privilege that we have. Were like, going down here to a big arcade, and going into a great big, a--a variety store. And you go into the variety store, and you look over here, heres some here, you like that. Now, when I get into a variety store, I like to look around a little, dont you all, especially if it was mine? And I see something up high, Ill get me a ladder, and go climb up, look at it, investigate it, see what it looks like. Thats the way it is in Christ Jesus. By one Spirit, were all baptized into Gods big variety store, Jesus Christ, where we have peace, joy, happiness, long-suffering, goodness, gentleness, meekness, Holy Ghost, powers of God, speaking with tongues, interpretation of tongues, Divine healing, glory, shouts, wisdom. Hallelujah. All these things are ours, every believer: belongs to you. 57-0728 THIRSTING.FOR.LIFE_ TACOMA.WA SUNDAY_ E-34 Now notice, the perverted life, the devil inspiring it... That life becomes miserable. Ive never seen it in all stages from the rich to the poor. Ive had the privilege of being in kings palaces, from that to the lowest haunt on skid row. And Ive never seen a contented sinner in my life. Thats right. There is no happiness or contentment outside of Jesus Christ. Ive seen them so rich till they had bodyguards with them. And Ive seen them so poor till they begged for a drink of whiskey. And from the one to the other theres no satisfaction in sin. Then what do they call that life? How could you call it life when you want to take it? Its not life. 55-1119 REDEEMER.REDEMPTION_ SAN.FERNANDO.CA SATURDAY_ E-54 What did He redeem? He redeemed your soul from hell. He redeemed and brought back everything that Adam lost, when he put you in the pawn shop. Jesus Christ, on Calvary was your Kinsman Redeemer that redeemed you from every curse of the devil. He redeems your soul. He redeems your sick body. He redeems your weary, dreary spirit. He brought you happiness. He brought you joy. He brought you... Thats what the redemption brought you, brought you peace, long-suffering, goodness, gentleness, meekness, power, the Holy Spirit, brought you Divine healing. All these things Jesus Christ brought to you, because He was our Kinsman Redeemer. He came to the earth. He suffered as a man. He was in tempted in all manners like we are, yet, without sin. He become a perfect Kinsman Redeemer. He suffered in His body, bore our infirmities in His body to take it away, and came down to become kinfolks. What is it? God condescending, coming down. ~ Bro. W. M. Branham ~
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 07:35:47 +0000
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