"Who ever told you you have a right to be happy?”
That question comes from my favorite mini-series Vikings. It’s a question worth considering. From where does the illusion we have a right to happiness come? The Bible makes no such promise. So from where does it come?
Society has people chasing “happiness”.
Buy this item and you’ll be happy!
Look this way and you’ll be happy!
Think this way and you’ll be happy!
Is any of that true tho? The newness of an item fades away. Aging and styles change the sharpness of the look. Mindsets and society values change thoughts. I propose that the state of happiness is fleeting and not to be chased or even sought.
Chasing happiness sets a person up for a lifetime of disappointment, anxiety and misery. Stay with me on this now. Society and the financial system is based on the “pursuit” of this fleeting feeling. You need a bigger house, you need a family, you need these clothes, you need so much money, need, need, need. How many people are truly, deeply happy with all these things? They obtain them and move on to the next thing that will “make them happy”.
I know someone who bemoaned to me “I just want to be happy”. She chased all the things society told her to chase. She got the house, the family. Is she happy today? No. She still bemoans when set backs occur. She’s not alone of course. How many people are in therapy because they aren’t happy? I’m going to say it’s 100% in one form or the other. We are not promised Happiness and the sooner we come to grips with that the better our mental state becomes.
You’ll seldom here 2 phrases from me. One is the question “Are you happy?” and the other is “I am happy”.
I am not “happy”. The illusion of happiness fled me a long time ago. I stopped chasing those moments of euphoria. What I am tho is I am at Peace. Usually. There are times and situations where my peace is interrupted. It happens and that’s ok because true Peace is lasting. Peace does not depend on the new gadget, the trendy look, the newest thought in order to be accepted. It does not rely on relationships to be successful. No, for Peace truly comes from within. You obtain Peace when you realize that life is not always golden, but actually it’s often quite messy and that’s OK. It comes when you realize that you’ll never have certain things society tells you you need. It comes when you stop asking God why and start saying OK. While happiness is fleeting, Peace lingers. The funny thing is once you find Peace the puzzle pieces of life start fitting….
So to you, my friends who are reading this, I do not wish you happiness. Instead, I wish you Peace in 2026. Peace in your beautiful home or your humble farmhouse. Peace wether you have $10 to your name or $10,000. Peace wether you are surrounded by family or sitting alone on your couch. This is my wish for you.
So until next time, stay safe, stay health, stay content.