by Phyllis Grimes

Created on: September 15, 2009

The key to a long and happy life is actually a paradox! The key is that we actually must discontinue the pursuit of happiness. We should cease our unending efforts to attain happiness. Let me explain: we tell ourselves that we will be happy when we find the right life partner, when we pay off our debts and have more money in the bank. Or, we convince ourselves that we will be happy when we lose weight, finish our education, get a better job or a bigger house. We are constantly unconsciously putting our happiness off to some unknown time in the future. It is some kind of waiting game. The problem is that happiness is based on feelings, and feelings are volatile and unstable. Our feelings and emotions change rapidly depending on our circumstances, stressors, menstrual or other hormonal issues, our diets, relationships, and sleep habits. They change depending on what other people think about or say to us, whether the number on the scale or in the bank account increases or decreases, if our children listen and obey. Not only do our feelings change, so do our definitions of happiness as we grow, and as our interests, relationships, and goals change.

When we are young children, we are simply happy when we have friends to play with and parents to love us, but slowly our culture brainwashes us to believe that we can never be truly happy with our lives and with ourselves. So, we embark on this often fruitless journey to attain happiness the way our culture defines it, which is based primarily on material wealth and possessions, as well as a ridiculous preoccupation with youth. Americans spend billions of dollars every year on cosmetic procedures and on self-help because they foolishly believe they will finally be happy if they could just get rid of wrinkles, get married, fix their noses or increase their bust sizes.

Instead, we should attempt to attain an overall state of being, rather than on feelings. Contentment and joy should become of greater importance over happiness. When people are truly content and have lives marked with joy, their state of being remains constant no matter the circumstances they face. Christians especially should live their lives this way because we know that we should always be in a state of satisfaction and triumph that the Creator of the universe calls us His children. So, we can be confident that everything that comes our way has either been arranged or allowed by Him for His glory and for our good. Now that we know that the pursuit

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