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The Key to Happiness

Guest post by: Jim Stovall

Article Overview: In this day-to-day existence that we commonly call life, there are those rare and special moments when we rise above the fray and experience our true destiny. When it is all said and done, I believe that-more than anything else-life is about being happy in the active pursuit of making others happy. Most people are too busy making a living to really have a life. Happiness is often elusive and fleeting.

The Key to Happiness

In this day-to-day existence that we commonly call life, there are those rare and special moments when we rise above the fray and experience our true destiny. When it is all said and done, I believe that-more than anything else-life is about being happy in the active pursuit of making others happy. Most people are too busy making a living to really have a life. Happiness is often elusive and fleeting.

There are three elements that, when combined, always result in happiness. Like a three-legged stool, they work in tandem. Any two of the three are sorely lacking when the third element is absent.

In order to be truly happy in the largest sense of that word, we must have something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. Given those three things, we will find ourselves experiencing happiness and joy. Take away one or more of these elements, and we are but groping in the dark for that elusive, missing, intangible, undefinable "something" that we only know exists because we don't seem to have it.

"Something to do" represents the investment of the most precious commodity that we all have-our time. We all have the same amount of hours and minutes each day. Success and happiness hang in the balance based upon how we invest our time. Many people think that paradise would be a wonderful tropical island where there was nothing to do all day. Great literature is full of examples of people on such islands, totally invested in the pursuit of escaping.

"Someone to love" represents the investment of esteem and caring that we invest in others. In order to experience happiness, we must emotionally get outside of ourselves to affect the outcome of other people's lives.

"Something to look forward to" is the investment of hope and energy we put forward into a time that has not yet arrived. No one can truly be happy who lives only in the here-and-now. We have to accept the fact that there is more to this existence than we currently have in front of us.

The next time you find yourself experiencing that life of "quiet desperation," examine your soul and determine whether you're missing something to do, someone to love, or something to look forward to. Therein lies the key to your happiness.

Today's the day!

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Article Tags: destiny, expectations, Jim Stovall



Related Forum Posts
Re: The secret to happiness - Happiness comes from within. We choose whether we want to be happy or not. Circumstances can influence our feelings, but in the end, it's up to us how we deal with our circumstances, positively or negatively. I admire anyone who can stay strong and be happy through adversity. There will always be challenges that we face, but I believe that if we face them with our heads held high, the odds of overcoming them are much greater. This reminds me of the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness." Happiness spelled wrong for a reason. One of Will Smith's greatest movies. I encourage you all to watch it as it's very inspiring.
Re: Are you really happy? - So true Yinka. Happiness comes from within. MichelleJ
Re: The secret to happiness - Happiness is working on the job you love. I forgot who said this, "give a man the job he loves doing and he will ever work again in his life"
Re: Are you really happy? - Happiness is not in things or should not be in things but in you
Re: The secret to happiness - [quote="barrysarner":2awy1urv]I agree and happiness is different for every individual.[/quote:2awy1urv] Happiness is something that comes from within each person it not something that we can find externally. Something from outside such as an exciting event or a new car can make us happy, but this is a fleeting emotion. True happiness is within each person if we choose to it over misery. MichelleJ


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