My Philosophy of ‘It.”

Imagine if someone could grant you either fame and fortune, or happiness, but not both. Would you choose fame fortune and wealth, or would you rather live joy filled days while only possessing life’s necessities.

There are four kinds of people in the world: Rich, rich people; Rich, poor people; poor, poor people and rich poor people. Countless studies have shown there are two main ingredients to happiness in this sad word. A rich man is just a poor man with money. Money doesn’t buy happiness; it just helps you look for it in a lot more places. Rich, rich people have eternity with God and wealth in this world. Rich poor people, have Jesus but very little in this world. The double poor have neither and some people have wealth in this world but no eternal hope. Hence, the rich, poor people.

The older I get the more I realize what in life satisfies and what doesn’t. I once had a philosophy of “it”. When I was 8 “it” was a new bike. At 10 “it” was to be on the soccer team but that wasn’t it. In fact, “it” was a disaster, I scored 2 goals for the other team (I was playing fullback). At 12 “it” was a new typewriter, I wanted to be a writer.  At 14 “it” was to be class captain, but once I achieved “it” that wasn’t “it” either. When I was 15 “it” was to have my driver’s licence(it horrifies me now when I see 15 year old kids and think in those days in NZ they let us loose on the roads). Then “it” was to drive my mother’s car everywhere and then “it “was to have a  car of my own. At 16, “it” was to date Debbie – no offence to Debbie, she was OK but once I had dated her a few times she wasn’t “it”. At 18, “it” was to finish my degree in Agriculture and help save the starving world.

All the time there was this nagging emptiness as I achieved each “it” Most people have “its” of their own – “it” might be a degree, a new car, or home, a boat , or world trip.  But “it” never satisfies. We have external assumptions of what “it” is. I have been through a lot of them. But you know what “it” really is? You want to know what really satisfies?? The only thing that really satisfies is an authentic relationship with Jesus that is willing to do His will for my life, wherever that may lead or whatever that might take me through.

Apparently, the secret motive of all we do, is an attempt to achieve happiness.  According to the research happy people tend to be more energetic , more decisive, flexible,  creative, and sociable. Happy people are apparently more trusting, loving, forgiving, responsive and can tolerate more frustration. They are more willing to help those in need and are also more generous. A joyful spirit accompanies strong fit bodies. So what’s new, 3,000years ago we were told “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a down cast spirit dries up the bones”

Emotions are biological events!  Even our body’s immune system fights disease more effectively when we are happy. When we are depressed the number of disease-fighting cells declines. Helen Keller (who was both deaf and blind) said, “Joy is a holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow”.

So where is happiness to be found?

Analysis of the scientific data (a 300-page book I read) should help us reassess our priorities. The conclusion!  Wealth, accumulating materialism and self-focused individualism does not produce the hoped for wellbeing,  what does is  an active spirituality and close relationships with others.

A person who experiences wellbeing can stay in control even when the day is filled with woes. I remember reading Bertrand Russel as a young man at university. He once said “most people are unhappy”.  Soren Kierkegaard talked about the hyper activism in western society as being a futile attempt to escape our awareness of death.

I once thought we are all like smooth flat pebbles thrown over the surface of a pond. We would dance and dance and dance along the surface until we run out of momentum, and then each of us will eventually sink into the deep of nothingness.

In the end happiness is a state of mind that depends less on our objective circumstances and more on how we respond to them. Neither poverty nor wealth bring happiness! Affluence has steadily increased over the last 50 years while our sense of wellbeing has declined. When surveyed and asked “what would make you happier” most people say “more money” but research has proved that this is not so. The rush of euphoria that comes from a pay rise, a lottery win, or other windfalls is transitory.

There has been shown in six massive studies, to be two important dimensions to happiness. They are close personal relationships and religious faith. Those with close relationships in friends, family or close nit religious communities are not only happier but have been shown to live longer. There is a definite link between social support and health.

People who have recently suffered divorce, unemployment, bereavement, serious illness or disability have retained greater joy if they also had a strong faith. They are the ones who are better able to find meaning amid the trauma. A religious faith buffers the negative effects of trauma.