Happiness
100 happy days
Several months ago,Our
grandson, Matthew Mathison’s school teacher, bravely shared her struggle with
infertility. She and her husband
had tried unsuccessfully for years to conceive a child. She was about to undergo her last in vitro
attempt. Via email, she humbly
asked families of her students to please pray for her – to pray to their own
personal God in her behalf that she and her husband would be blessed with a
child. A brave and vulnerable
request. Her prayers
were answered as were the prayers of many parents and students who love
her. A miracle of faith! She is expecting a child in a few
months.
She moved to Chicago and to
keep in touch and express gratitude she is posting her 100 Happy Days on
Instagram. I love the idea – a
perfect project to seek happy moments, recognize blessings and express
gratitude for a wonderful life.
I found this is a popular
project on social media – 100 Happy Days
The website says this-
"The ability to appreciate the moment,
the environment and yourself in it, is the bridge towards long term happiness. 71% of people tried to complete this challenge, but
failed quoting lack of time as the main reason. These people simply did not have time to be happy.
People successfully
completing the challenge claimed to
Start noticing what makes
them happy every day.
Be in a better mood
Start receiving more
compliments
Realize how lucky they are to
have the life they have
Become more optimistic
Fall in love during the
challenge."
This is not a new
concept. Gratitude journals serve
a similar purpose. Most
importantly, prayer. We are
admonished to begin our prayers with first thanking our Father in Heaven for
our blessings.
I have read and enjoyed the book, “The Happiness Project”
written by Gretchen Rubin. She begins with a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson:
"There is no duty we so much
underrate as the duty of being happy. "
People asked her: "so if you’re pretty happy, why do a
happiness project?" She replied:
“I am happy – but I’m not as
happy as I should be. I have such
a good life, I want to appreciate it more and live up to it better. I think if I felt happier I’d behave
better.
Contemporary research shows
that happy people are more altruistic, more productive, more helpful, more
likable, more creative, more resilient, more interested in others, friendlier
and healthier. Happy people make
better friends, colleagues and citizens.
I wanted to be one of those people.”
I loved President Uchdorff’s
talk in April conference.
I
have selected a few of my favorite quotes from his address:
"Over the years, I have had the sacred opportunity to meet
with many people whose sorrows seem to reach the very depths of their
soul. In these moments, I have
listened to my beloved brothers and sisters and grieved with them over their
burdens. Often their grief is
caused by what seems to them as an
ending. Some are facing the end of
a cherished relationship. Others
feel they are facing the end of hope – the hope of being married or bearing
children or overcoming an illness.
Others may be facing the end of their faith, as confusing and
conflicting voices in the world tempt them to question, even abandon what they
once knew to be true. Sooner or
later all of us experience times when the very fabric of our world tears at the
seams, leaving us feeling alone, frustrated and adrift.
There is something that would
take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make
life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.
We can be grateful.
Some might say, “What do I
have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?"
Instead of being thankful for
things – focus on being thankful in our circumstances.
Being grateful in our
circumstances is an act of faith in God.
It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but
which are true. True gratitude is
an expression of hope and testimony.
It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials
of life but trust that one day we will.
Our Father has given His
children the great plan of happiness; that through the Atonement of His Son,
Jesus Christ, we can live forever with our loved ones; that in the end we will
have glorious, perfect and immortal bodies, unburdened by sickness or
disability and that our tears of sadness and loss will be replaced
with an
abundance of happiness and joy, “good measure, pressed down and shaken together
and running over.
The Lord has given us His
promise that those “who receive all things with thankfulness shall be made
glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto them, even an
hundred fold yea more. DC
78:19” end of Uchdorff quote
Nephi, one of my heroes –
even after all he had been through, exclaimed:
“And it came to pass that we
lived after the manner of happiness." 2 Nephi 5:27
I love the Chinese Symbol of
Double Happiness. We used it as the theme for our daughter Camille’s wedding
and has been a focal point in our home ever since.
To achieve happiness – make
someone else happy and as a result you are happy too.
Double Happiness – so simple,
so profound.
When you focus on others
rather than yourself happiness
increases-
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
One of the low points in my life has been an empty nest. For 30 plus years I was focused on
raising and serving my children and suddenly I found myself “lost at sea". I’ve had to refocus and work hard to
fill my life with purpose and meaning.
I think we must constantly readjust our sources of focus, service and
happiness – a never ending project and challenge.
I love this Audrey Hepburn
quote:
"I believe in being strong
when everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe that Happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day
and I believe in miracles."
Happiness is living the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Last week,
Elder Ballard gave these suggestions to students at the Ogden Institute:
"If you stay anchored to the
gospel of Jesus Christ, I promise that you will not have any challenge you can’t
deal with. Make time for
self-evaluation. Find and befriend
a lonesome person. Stay clear of
harmful things. Say thanks to your
parents. Don’t forget to
pray. And never take life too
seriously – it’s OK to have fun."
Elder Ballard concluded with an
invitation to take the journey to Gethsemane. "Come to know the Lord by studying the scriptures and those
essential moments in the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ atoned for the sins
of the world. You will have an
experiene that will change your life forever. Jesus Christ wants to be your friend. Let Him in. Turn your eyes to Gethsemane and you will find inner strength
and power to carry on and do whatever it is that faces you."
I am on day 25 of the
happiness challenge. It has been a
fun project and has raised my spirits and helped me recognize the true source
of my happiness. I’ve realized
that happiness is not some grand event – but – often, small quiet moments –
recognized through the whisperings of the Spirit – moments shared with family
and friends – simple things. Most
importantly, happiness comes as we try a little harder to be a little better,
rejoicing in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and striving to become like
Him.
I challenge each of you to recognize and be grateful for happy
moments – let your life be anchored to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be grateful in every circumstance. Lose yourself to find yourself. Make someone else happy and you’ll be happy as well.
Who doesn’t need a little
more happiness?
I say these things, in the name
of Jesus Christ, Amen
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