Happiness

I am a roving reporter from WorldWide Network and am doing a survey on what people feel is the purpose of life? What is your opinion? Use this space to think......

And the survey says.....happiness. Yes, 87% of respondents have said that "being happy" is the goal and purpose of life. It's what people want most out of life.

Let's define happiness as a feeling of contentment created when all of one's physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual and spiritual needs have been gratified. When was the last time that happened? When, as a baby, your diaper had just been changed, you just finished a feed, and you were being cradled in the arms of a loving mother...was the last and only time your felt contentment. How come you have never felt that way since that blissful day? The reason is that contentment, based on the above defintion, is never again attainable. No wonder "happiness" has eluded you. It has eluded 6 billion people over the age of 12 months for the last 5000 years of civilization. So don't feel so bad. You're in good company.

Conventional wisdom tells us that happiness and suffering are mutually exclusive. This is not our view. Our definition of happiness is a person who thinks positively about himself who, when faced with life's challenges, learns how to grow with the flow. This requires a little faith in God, as you understand Him, that He is guiding you toward the achievement of your potential and want s you to learn something from the challenge you are currently facing.

Having self-esteem does not mean you will be able to solve every issue, crisis and adversity. It means that you have faith in God that you have the human resources and God Given talents to deal with, cope with, and work through the challenge...and become a better person for it.

If the purpose of life is happiness then, of course, any pain or suffering contradicts that goal...and you have a right to become down and depressed. But that is not the purpose of life. The real purpose of life is to be the best person you can be. Let's be honest...the only way for you to become more compassionate and more giving...is to feel what it is like to be challenged. Isn't it true that most of the founders of community service movements are the people who have themselves been affected by adverse situations?

In order to develop a positive self image a person must learn to develop faith and trust in God, as you understand Him, that whatever is happening to you is not by accident, a cruel whim of a non caring God. If you think positively about yourself then you will have the courage and strength to work through the challenge. You may not be able to solve it...but you can learn to live with it and endure it. The problem is not because you are bad...its actually because God thinks you can grow from it and work toward achieving your potential, which is being the best person you can be. Being on the pathway... being in the midst of process......toward personal growth while saying: I can handle this...is the real meaning of happiness.