what is true happiness?

I was asked a question this past week that made me really think. He asked, "What does true happiness mean to you?" 

It's a question that honestly, I thought I'd be able to answer pretty quickly. I'm a fairly happy person... I have a lot to be thankful for... yet, I stood there unable to answer. What does true happiness mean to me? It's a question I feel many people today wonder about time to time again. 

So, I've decided to do a little research and see what others thought what true happiness was. I found answers from the average person, philosophers, the Bible, bloggers... and decided to share some answers with you. 


The "Average" Person. 

"It seems to me that happiness is a natural state. It's when I've tried to be like others, or tried to live up to others' expectations that resulted in me being unhappy... We can always do things our own unique way and the more you be yourself the more you will grow. This way your presence of being will always grow and though you will face hardships you will always triumph if you find the good in life. And there are a lot of good people out there too who are searching for the same peace of mind. Happiness is contagious!"

"A smile on your face usually means you're happy. But then you would only know you're happy when you are looking in the mirror. To me true happiness is seeing the smiles on others' faces. Knowing I had a hand in putting the smile there is my true happiness."

"I think true happiness is to be loved by the people that are closer to you."

"Whatever makes you feel good. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, free and at peace."

"To be in a good place where everything around you is secure and you have no secrets or pains to protect or cover up. You can just be yourself and enjoy it."

"The absence of greed, hatred and delusion."

"When you have no worries around you... and some chocolate could help too." 

"For people it's different. I'm happy when I'm with my friends. When I get compliments on my academics."

"Finding peace within myself." 


Philosophers.

Socrates

To find true happiness you must keep interested in the truth and make sure that your soul is as good as possible. To get a good soul, maintain the four virtues of prudence, temperance, courage and justice. 

Augustine of Hippo

Lasting happiness is possible only living in God. God is the greatest happiness that a man can achieve. 

Arthur Schopenhauer

Happiness is a wish that is satisfied, which in turn, gives rise to a new wish. The absence of satisfaction is suffering, that results in an empty longing. Happiness is linked with the movement of time. We feel happy when time moves faster and sad when time slows down. 

Ludwig Marcuse

There are only some moments of happiness in life, but that great permanent happiness does not exist. 


Psychology.

Psychology has defined happiness as subjective well-being, however, some theorists disagree with this and instead promote the idea of the meaningful life being as important or more important than a happy one. 

Dr. Mark Atkinson

"True happiness is worlds apart from 'normal happiness.' True happiness describes a deep sense of inner well-being, peace and vitality that is with you most of the time in most circumstances. People, who experience true happiness, feel a deep sense of gratitude for simply being alive. Unlike normal happiness which comes and goes and is dependent on certain things happening, true happiness is independent of our life situation. This doesn't mean you don't feel anger, or sadness or fear, in fact the opposite is often the case. Truly happy people have the ability to feel those emotions deeply and fully, but they don't lose sight of themselves as they do, they remain aware and present to their thoughts and motions without getting caught up in them."


The Bible. 

Psalm 30:1-12
"I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." 

John 15:9-11
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."



There are many people who are striving to find happiness each and every day. The truth is, happiness is all around us. We just have to look in the right place. 

in a world of challenges

"The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about these circumstances."

Truthfully, I love to play the blame game. Whatever challenge comes my way, I always find a way to blame it on something else. Even something simple that happened today... my computer keyboard randomly stopped working. I instantly threw up my hands and gave up because "technology just hates me." It obviously didn't have anything to with the simple fact that it ran out of batteries. 

I love to blame my stress on my circumstances. I have a long list of reasons of why certain things are the way they are and none of them have to do with my own self and attitude. Things happen. Challenges come. But these circumstances in themselves do not bring you stress. It's the thoughts about your circumstances that bring you stress. The fact that I'm not making as much money as I'd like in itself is not bringing me stress. What brings me stress are all the worrisome and anxious thoughts that I have about my circumstances. 

If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems and find you are ready for greater challenges. 

In all circumstances, we can choose to be a blessing. We can choose to look at challenges as opportunities instead of burdens. When we use our challenges to learn, we can bless others as well. 

I heard a message the other day and it reminded me that there are many things that we come with the attitude of "have to" instead of "get to." This is something I am learning in some of the challenges I face and changing my perspective. 

For example, as most of you know I am raising support in order to work in South Africa. Recently, I've had the mindset of I have to raise support. But what a change in perspective when I change the word have to get. I GET to raise support! What an exciting opportunity to bond people together for one goal. 

I'm challenging myself and I'd like to challenge you to think about all of the "have to's" in your life and look at it from another perspective. Yes, I have to go to work. But I get to go to work so that maybe in some small way I can make somebody's day. 

And that brings me to my next support team highlight of the week: Beth Waltrip. 

I have known Beth forever. She has been such a blessing in my family's life and her and my mother's friendship has given me hope and inspiration for my own friendships. Seeing how long their friendship has lasted and how it's still going strong is amazing. I love all the memories of birthdays where she has always baked the most delicious cakes. 



         My mom and Beth-- and a delicious cake! 

I love that she didn't have to be on my support team. But she chose to. We get to be in God's ministry together. 


Thank you to all who are currently supporting and praying for me. If you'd like more information on my ministry vision and financial goals, please email me at rpearson@twr.org.