Happiness. It is the key to a good life. But how do we get there???
Recent discussions with Bobby and at Guinness have kept me thinking about this. It is also something that I finally feel like I have a good grasp on and begin to talk about it personally.
Happiness is very different for everyone. For some people, happiness is being able to go to an amusement park and ride roller coasters all day, or spend lots of money, or stay curled up in bed with your dog. Happiness can be spending time with your loved ones, or staying as far away from them as possible. I think one central thing to everyone’s happiness, is that they keep God at the center of it.
Every time that I find myself stressed out beyond control, upset about the little things, and just plain miserable, I realize that I have taken my focus off of the most important aspect of my life- my faith. I have probably gotten “too busy” to take time to say a short prayer, even if it is “Hey God. Thanks!” and instead of opening my Bible for a quick second, I just threw it into the backseat to get it out of the way. As soon as I stop to say a prayer, “God, help me please” I begin to feel stress and misery melt away. My focus has been put on the very central and most important part of my life once again. I then do everything I can to keep going to God and life becomes controllable again, because at that point I know that I am not the one in control but HE is.
I think this is one reason that things have been so great with Bobby. We both make a point to keep God at the very center of our relationship. Our faiths, even though they are slightly different, are not something that we keep quiet and we discuss it regularly. I have also noticed that my relationship with my parents got that much stronger when I began openly talking to them about my faith as I grew up. I have always talked to them about it, but it was different when I began coming into my own beliefs and figuring out my life.
So… key #1 to happiness?? Keep God at the very center of everything. I talk about this all the time on here, but that is because I think it is the most important thing that a person can do for themselves. Now, I am not saying that saying “God, please help me” is going to solve all of life’s problems because he isn’t going to hand you the answers on a silver platter, but if you take that first step and begin working in that way, you will be on the right path.
My step #2? Live your life for YOU in addition to keeping God at the center. You are the first person that you need to take care of because if you are not taken care of, how can you take care of someone else? It took me 21 years to learn this. Last year I finally came to my senses when I realized I was living my life in accordance with what one guy thought. The worst part was he wasn’t even a guy that cared! When I was on my way home after a long day, I broke down and realized that I was falling apart because I never thought about myself and I was always trying to make everyone else happy. That day, I let it all go and began living for ME. That led me to finally getting those seminary applications mailed, realizing that it was ok to talk to leave music and forget what others thought, and I even started dating Bobby (best decision I have ever made for myself!). Now? I am happier than I have ever been. Sure, my family has their comments about obvious parts of my life, but that leads into part two of step #2.
IF THEY LOVE YOU, THEY WILL WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY. People will understand that you need to live for YOU and if they really love you, they will want you to be happy. Sometimes people won’t agree with you (ok… all the time), but that is their own problem. If you are truly happy, then go for it!! They will get over it in time.
Keep these in your mind. Find your happiness. Never let go of God. If you do lose focus on God at some point, it’s ok. He loves you and will never lose focus on you or leave you. Just say a quick prayer, and keep smiling!
