Thoughts on Happiness

I have been chasing happiness my whole life, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. There are occasions when it's seemed like I should be happy and can't figure out why I'm sad. Externally everything may be lining up just the way I want: decent job, good friends and family life. But happiness, while affected by external forces, is something that only occurs on the inside. Outward accomplishments and possessions do not guarantee it. Some of the happiest people I know have very little in terms of wealth. But happiness is its own kind of currency, and arguably worth far more than gold or precious gems.

Here are a few things I've found that positively contribute to the kind of wholesome, lasting happiness I always want to feel:

1. Faith. No matter how much wisdom and wealth I gain, there are certain things I simply can't control. Any one of the people I love could be called home at any time, and so could I. Faith is the only force in my life that I can turn to when these worst case scenarios occur, or when I find myself becoming anxious and fearful about the future. My faith assures me that God is in charge, that He knows what He is doing and that He is a kind and benevolent being who wants everyone who has ever walked the earth to be truly and everlastingly joyful.
2. Love. I once went through a difficult period of time when I felt very alone and depressed. Even though I wasn't alone and was very loved, I couldn't see it and didn't allow myself to feel it. The truth is that I didn't think I was worth loving, and anyone who did profess to love me obviously didn't know the real me. I looked inward for answers and found nothing, but when I looked outward and started serving and loving others--thinking more of their needs than of my own--I began to heal. Love rescued me from my self-created prison.
3. Truth. There are times when I've made mistakes and haven't wanted to admit them. But sin and sadness fester in darkness, and the light of truth is the only cure. When I am faced with a choice between truth and lies, the path of lies often looks easier, but it actually just goes in circles. By stepping through the pain of truth and confessing my weaknesses and failings I release the burden of guilt and allow myself to be made whole again.
4. Beauty. I love to watch the paintings of light that God makes for us every single day in the sky. I love to get outside into the mountains or the desert and be one with nature. I love beautiful music, beautiful acts of service, beautiful people (we are ALL beautiful) and beautiful words. I love to lift those around me and I love to be lifted by them. I love to feel the wide range of positive and negative emotions we all experience, because it means I'm alive. I love being human: growing and hurting, falling and getting back up, always learning and moving forward even if my progress is almost imperceptible. Every day is a gift, every soul is precious in the eyes of God, and every new experience helps me understand who I am and why I'm here.