For years I searched for happiness outside myself. If I could just obtain the perfect job, relationship, or material possessions, then I would be happy. I thought that if I only managed well, stayed focused, and dug in, I could wrestle happiness out of life. My thinking was backwards:
Life is not a search for happiness. Happiness is a by-product of living the right kind of a life, of doing the right thing. Do not search for happiness, search for right living and happiness will be your reward. Life is sometimes a march of duty during dull, dark days. But happiness will come again, as God’s smile of recognition of your faithfulness. True happiness is always the by-product of a life well lived.
– Twenty-Four Hours a Day (Hazelden Education Materials)
Who would have thought? Not me. Not until I was forced, out of desperation, to seek a new way of thinking. My way was just not working. In fact, it was slowly killing me.
Being of service to others is right living. Call it good karma, positive energy, law of attraction, whatever label you slap on it, in my experience being of service brings happiness. Several inspirational sayings come to mind here:
Be the change you want to see in the world
–Mahatma Gandhi
Self-esteem comes from doing Esteemable Acts
–Francine Ward
From the movie Peaceful Warrior
Dan: “Hey Socrates, if you know so much, why are you working at a gas station?”
Socrates: “It’s a service station. We offer service. There’s no higher purpose.”
Dan: “… Than pumping gas?”
Socrates: “Service to others.”
Imagine the world if everyone sought to be of service to others. And yes, everyone can. Everyone has something to offer. Although we can’t give away something we don’t have and finding it, in most cases, is the hardest part. But that’s a whole different topic ;-)
The following daily meditation from Twenty Four Hours A Day refers to alcoholics, but I believe it can apply to anyone who has overcome a life obstacle:
Service to others makes the world a good place. Civilization would cease if all of us were always and only for ourselves. We alcoholics have a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the world. We have a common problem. We find a common answer. We are uniquely equipped to help others with the same problem. What a wonderful world it would be if we took our own greatest problem and found the answer to it and spent the rest of our lives helping others with the same problem in our spare time. Soon we would have the right kind of a world.
– Twenty-Four Hours a Day (Hazelden Education Materials)
My challenge to the world and myself is: Find something we’ve struggled with and overcome, then see how we can use that to be of service to others. Surely we all have something. I know I do. In doing so, I must remind myself to avoid self-righteousness. The saying is “be the change you want to see,” not “change those to be like me.” Remember, attraction rather than promotion.
Instead of concentrating on how to find happiness, concentrate on right-living and happiness will find you!
Photo credit: David Masters
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post. Its something we should all remember as all we can do is pursue happiness because we are looking for something that is always available in the NOW its just drowned out by thoughts, fear’s and anxiety.
BTW I loved the Peaceful Warrior movie so your quote really struck a cord. Awesome blog, keep up the great posts!
Great post and such a lot to think about. I also spent many years looking for happiness, but happily I have somewhat worked out the above for myself over time.