Are We “Happy” Yet?…

I believe happiness is a decision!  I have spent several years on this earth in a wonderful country, a great region, a rural environment, and with evangelical church involvement.  I have personally examined and treated approximately 3,000 patients a year for 35 years.  I think this life experience has given me a basis for this conclusion.   HAPPINESS is a DECISION!

I can’t and don’t want to write a definitive paper on this subject.  However, I want to share some thoughts that give credence to my hypothesis.   What makes a person happy?   This popular question gets asked rather frequently.  People often answer…. more money,  more time off, attend more events, indulge in life-threatening activities, partake of mind-altering substances, and various other things.  All of  these do bring some exhilaration, laughter, and pleasure.  Do these really make one happy?   I  think not.

So, what makes us truly happy?  Without using the dictionary, let me define happiness as I see and understand it.  To me, happiness is that state of mind that we have in the face of all our blessings, trials, or misfortunes that causes peace and contentment, regardless of our location on the “road of life”.  If this is the case, then achieving happiness comes from finding the source of our peace.  The Bible speaks of the peace that passes all understanding.  I find that the decision to know God and let Him become the greater part of our life is the way to happiness.  I believe that taking our “measure of faith”, even if it is as small as a mustard seed, growing it larger into a strong, tall tree is the most successful, easiest way to make the decision to choose happiness.  So in my way of thinking, if one wants to be happy, then one should make the decision to be happy, follow that path, and experience true HAPPINESS!