Happy, happy…
My friend Mark got me thinking about happiness the other day. It came in the form of a comment on one of my posts about finding your story.
In a nutshell, he is done searching for happiness. Not in a fatalistic sense, but he’s realized happiness is fleeting. I can’t find a reason to disagree with him.
I think that I began to sense this in my life in my mid to late 20’s (I’m currently headed full steam toward 40). I began to realize that when I felt happy, it was all based on my circumstances. Did I feel love? Did I have enough stuff? Did I feel successful? Those things dictated my happiness.
But that feeling – based on the “stuff” – changed, sometimes even on a daily or hourly basis. Happiness is based on feelings. I just don’t think that feeling happy all the time or even most of the time is possible. Talk with people who “look” happy all the time and even they will say that they aren’t always happy. The feeling comes and goes.
Life isn’t all rainbows and kittens…
…joy, joy.
So what is it that I was really searching for? Joy.
Joy isn’t based on what is currently happening in my life. Joy isn’t dictated by how I feel. Joy according to the dictionary is something or someone greatly valued or appreciated. I have joy in my life because I deeply value my life and the people around me.
Physical stuff, feelings, accomplishments all come and go. Who I am; what I’m meant to be; these things are always with me. I value you them, so I have joy. It’s when I begin to focus on the other stuff that I begin to lose my joy.
So, when I write about purpose/story/want it’s all in the context of being joyful because it’s something I highly value.
Yes, I also believe there is a “God” element buried deep within this conversation, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. Good luck in your search for joy.
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