Research has shown that we now live in a modern and wealthier society, but we are still unhappy. We are more prosperous, but more depressed and less satisfied. In many countries there are more suicides than homicides than ever before. We have better and faster technology. On the other hand, we are not seeing corresponding increases in our life satisfaction and our happiness. The purpose of this article is to touch on some aspects of happiness highlighting some definitions of happiness, happiness in the workplace, biblical perspective on happiness, benefits of happiness and some tips to become a happier person.
Happiness has a different meaning for different people. It is, however, popularly regarded as the state of being happy – “feeling or showing pleasure of contentment.” One writer argues that, “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” The happiest people do not have the best of everything – they just make the best of everything. Happiness is therefore seen as a choice. For example, when you wake up each day, you can choose what day you are going to have: either a bad day or a good day. Abraham Lincoln observed that “Most people are happy as they decided to be.” Another author eloquently said: ” Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose.” The gift of happiness truly lies within our own hearts and minds. Each person is responsible for his or her own happiness. As long as we are making the job of people and circumstances to make us happy, our happiness will be unstable.
It is no secret that a happy person lives a happy life. Of course, every person’s experience is unique. What determines one person’s happiness may not be a factor for another person. Happier people do not waste time stressing on things that they do not have control over. They are ok with what they cannot do because they know that there are so many things they can do. They have a different perspective on life. It is said that happy people have less stress, lower rates of depression and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, they have a better immune system enabling them to live a longer life. However, when we focus on what we don’t have, rather than on what we do have, we create our own unhappiness accompanied with the many health stresses and problems.
Workplace happiness is also a common topic nowadays. Although employees are the most important assets of business organizations, some employers still fail to recognize that without happy and motivated people their organizations will never achieve long term success. Happy employees are more productive. Therefore, employers should take steps to create workplace happiness. If done effectively, there will be reduced conflicts, lower absenteeism and better retention of staff, resulting in increased employee engagement and a positive bottom line. Recent research has shown that, “Happy employees are 12 percent more productive than the norm, and 22 percent more productive than their unhappy peers.” Employees also spend their most wake hours at work. Employers need to be cognizant of this fact to ensure there is harmony in the workplace to increase employee morale, to achieve higher staff retention and improve productivity.
If you want not only true happiness, but also to be joyful and blessed, there is no other source of knowledge and wisdom that you should consult but the Bible. The Scripture says that “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (I Timothy 6:6-7). It is sad that many people mistakenly believe that money will bring them lasting happiness. However, many who have taken this path soon realized that they are on the wrong road toward happiness. Another thief of our joy is when we compare ourselves to others which the Bible warns us against. When we look at others, it is very easy to find the things that we lack instead of the things that we have. “Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to yourself. Compete with yourself. Be a better version of yourself each day.” If you want to be happy, the Bible tells us to serve other people. Strive to make other people happy and you will see that happiness will eventually find its way back to you. This is the main reason that Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Sin can be the greatest thief of your happiness. Therefore, if you want to be happy, avoid living a sinful life at all cost. The Bible gave us the guidelines on how to fully live this life and these guidelines are laid out as the law of God. When you keep the commandments of God, you will soon see how blessed your life will become.
Generally, there are many ways how one can find true happiness. First we have to accept the view that happiness is a personal choice. We must actively cultivate, on a daily basis, a source of peace and happiness from within us. However, one of the simplest ways to stay happy is to let go of things that make you unhappy. The greatest source of unhappiness is self-unhappiness. We are responsible for our own happiness. It is said that we become what we think about. Thus happy thoughts equal happy life. Additionally, true happiness comes from living a life pursuing our passion using the talents we were born with. That is why many people are successful, but they are still unhappy because they are left with an emptiness that not even their riches and material possessions can fill. We often hear that happiness comes from doing things our own way. We now know that is not true. If you want to live a happy, victorious and abundant life, we have to do things God’s way by completing the assignment He created for each one of us.
