How is your happy meter reading today?

I like to think of myself as a happy person and hopefully, you do too, but…

We’ve all had those moods when even the most exciting events or milestones just don’t seem to make us happy anymore. Have you been there?

Our work is finally recognized, we won a contest, we achieve a goal, we finish a project, someone bought another copy of our book…

What used to have us jumping to the moon and doing that crazy happy dance we love to do, doesn’t feel quite the same anymore, like something is off — not right. It scares us because we think about how we would have reacted a year ago or even just a few months ago.

We have thoughts like what the heck is wrong with me? Have I lost my mind? Isn’t this what I’ve been working so hard for?

Have we grown numb to the things that used to make us happy?

No, we haven’t so no need to worry. It’s not that these things aren’t important and wonderful, it’s that perhaps we’ve come to a place where we have let go of the will I be accepted and am I good enough obsession. We have moved into the sweet-spot of striving with excellence for the right reasons.

In other words, we’ve gotten our priorities straight and that’s a good thing. We’ve realized we won’t die if accolades are lacking, or our book, or our course, or our product doesn’t sell as well as we had hoped.

Perhaps we didn’t win that contest, earn that contract, get that raise, or finish that project.

Those things are important in some respects and achieving them may make us happy in the moment, but when putting things into perspective in light of the big picture, those things cannot compare to what truly brings us happiness.

Here are the top 8 reasons my readers gave when asked what makes them happy:

• Spiritual Things (the thought of eternity with Jesus/Heaven/God)
• Love
• Family (spouse, children, grandchildren)
• Friends
• Family Pets/Animals
• Giving & Living Intentionally
• Seeing kindness in Action
• Peace/Rest

Interestingly enough, making money didn’t make the cut. Boats, cars, diamonds — they didn’t make the cut either. 

Although we should not count on others to make us happy and should not base true happiness on feelings or emotions (roller coaster, anyone?), these 8 are more consistent and constant as compared to all those other things we talked about earlier.

For example, best selling authors will tell you true happiness does not come from hitting that list. It’s an honor and a fantastic achievement deserving of celebration and bucket list worthy for sure, but what happens when happiness is tied to rankings?

It’s like riding in a hot-air balloon. The ride is fantastic and the scenery from above is breathtaking, but eventually, that basket will have to come down — with you in it.

An Important Reminder

Our value and worth are not tied to others’ opinions of us. We want to live a life of integrity, true, but approval and acceptance or lack thereof does not alter the fact that we are valuable and important to God — and He doesn’t gossip. Can I get an amen?

We can find hundreds of examples in life where happiness is fleeting, but If we want to live a life of true and lasting happiness, we need to focus on what really matters.

Not everyone will find happiness in all 8 of these areas, but I’m thinking there are at least 2 you can relate to. Joy is another wonderful gift from the Lord. His joy is in us that our joy may be full. Read this about days When It’s Hard to Find Joy.

What makes you truly happy?

Share your thoughts…

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