True Happiness
Everyone aspires to something better: a better life, harmonious relationships, permanent health, a good education and a good job. We all want to live happily.
In this quest for happiness we sometimes choose the path that suits us best. Unfortunately this does not always end as we had hoped, and even when it does, we are not necessarily happy.
Seeing all this we might ask ourselves what is the true source of happiness. How can we be sure we have made a good choice in our life? Whatever the question, it is obvious that at the rate things seem to be going these days (rising unemployment among young people in Africa, the financial crisis, pervasive poverty that affects nations, to name a few), it is very important to know what we are relying on in order to gain good things. Do we rely on God or on ourselves? Our Master, Jesus, has shown us the way: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” 1
We should never start from a matter-based view to access the good that is always present. We should not think there is a lack needing to be filled, but instead that the good we seek is already there. Right where poverty seems to hold sway, we must understand that wealth is already present! Right where there seems to be lack, we must know that abundance is present! What we really need to do is to change our view of things and start from the omnipresence and omnipotence of good. Let’s always stay connected to good by expressing goodness so that it abounds in our life.
No matter what situation we currently find ourselves in, we need to know that God, our true Father-Mother, who loves us so much, has already prepared something better for us! And what He has prepared is already present!
In my own search, I realized happiness has a divine source. Happiness is not material, it is spiritual. Having all the money in the world will not make us happy if we are selfish, full of resentment, or vain. I understood that being happy is to express divine qualities such as love, goodness, joy, peace and integrity. It is doing good to others, appreciating them for their true worth, and living peacefully with everyone. This enables us to have everything we need.
That is what happened to me two years ago. I had some financial difficulties, and it was hard for me to pay for anything. Praying about this situation I thought about this passage from Jeremiah 29:11: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This enabled me to lift my thought up to God. I understood that as His child, I already had all that I needed. I was already richly blessed by divine Love. Instead of trying to get, I decided to give what I already had by expressing divine qualities as they were needed.
I was there to serve others. Since I had some computer skills, friends and church members would come to me for help in this area. Some had computer problems or they needed something translated from English. I was always available and did not ask for anything in return. I realized that, by doing good, I would also receive good. Mary Baker Eddy tells us: “blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good” (Science and Health, p. 518). By serving others I was able to develop and express divine qualities such as creativity, know-how, endurance and a good work ethic. I completely forgot about my financial situation!
A few days later a friend called to tell me he had found me a job! I started the next day. It was a job that needed the same qualities I was expressing when I helped others! That same evening I had received enough money to cover some of my needs.
We are not poor victims at the mercy of time, circumstances, or chance. We are the sons and daughters of God, and nothing can prevent us from living fully and using our unlimited abilities to the maximum. Nothing other than the false idea and image we have of ourselves can prevent us from enjoying our divine rights. We can replace this false image with the true one. This way, we’ll open the door to the infinite possibilities of divine Consciousness. This is our true and only source of income!
Notes:
- Matt. 6:33 ↩
Topics: Financial Issues, Gratitude, Happiness, Lack | Tags: decision-making, divine rights, giving, goodness, helping, money, tolerance
Your thoughts are great reminders of how doors are opened as we give, share, live life with integrity, plus a gift of languages -
Yet, how to deal with scams, – statements not grandiose, yet assurancaes not kept?
Whether through a friend, or a business opportunity that was not based on greed, just globally intriguing -Then someone giving constant reminders of being a ‘fool’…
Like two brothers, and one got wasted…not wanting a handout, coming home to father God to the rescue, just right thinking for daily living beyond trust. so many choices – what is best?
Thanks, Patrick and Jenny, for these helpful thoughts!
Lyle Young
hi Patrick, I love your demonstration of supply that you’ve described. It really spoke to me because I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how God is constantly supplying us with right ideas regardless of the human circumstances we face. And we’re never stuck with a limited view of who we are and what we can expect.
Even Esau, who sold his human birthright for a plate of pottage (Gen 25), was able to say years later, on the day he was reconciled with his brother Jacob, “I have enough”. Just before that reconciliation, Jacob, struggling with a material view of himself, had through prayer gained a deeper insight into his spirituality. (Gen chaps 32, 33)
The brothers had been at odds with each other because years back Jacob had tricked Esau out of the birthright. But God’s plan was bringing them both redemption, and the recognition that neither of them was dependant on that human birthright for their well-being.
Every time we demonstrate something of our dominion over limitation for ourselves, we’re doing it for everyone, and we’re upholding the divine right of everyone everywhere to say “I have enough”.