Thoughtful Thursday.....Grab a Cup Of Encouragement

Happiness At Any Cost?

"He Who Is Of A Merry Heart Has A Continual Feast."

                                                                       Proverbs 15:15

               Though dozens of moods are available to women, we all prefer to be in a good one. Although numerous emotions flutter through our hearts everyday the one that is hoped for above others is happiness. We all want o live happily ever after. What keeps us happy? Easy when things go our way of course. When everything runs smoothly in the manner we want, we dreamed, we fantasied over. No bumps, no interruptions, no inconveniences. In order to maintain our personal contentment we will actually catch ourselves begin to avoid situations that might compromise our happiness. We find ourselves thinking I don't want to deal with regret, so we don't take chances, I don't want to feel stupid so we blend quietly in to the crowd. I don't to be disappointed  so I will lower my expectations. I don't want to try anything new because it's out of my comfort zone. I don't want to feel embarrassed  so we avoid speaking up. I don't want to feel sadness so we don't allow ourselves to care. We set up comfort zones at all costs. We stick to them and don't allow anyone to make us budge. We create our own happy, little bubble...a safe haven no one can touch. Happiness at any cost.

I just want to be happy, that's not so bad right? Or is it? When we place our own happiness as the highest goal in life we sometimes do so at the highest cost. In doing so we decide our happiness is more important than anyone else. We begin to insist for people to jump through our hoops. Everyone to line up with our expectations, if we are not happy then things need to change. It's all about me, my plan, my choice, my favorites, my comfort, and happiness. What's worse is our happiness becomes more important than truth. In my case God's truth. The things that are asked in scripture can put a crimp in our style. Convinced that God wants us to be happy we pick and choose what should apply and what is frivolous.

There is such a difference between happiness and learning to be joyful. If we are constantly expecting others to conform to us, to how we feel then we ourselves will be mislead. Our emotions are fleeting. We need to dig deeper then our emotions. We need to learn to see the blessings we have. Everyday blessings I call them. Those moments when you can feel the heat rising due to not  getting your way, stop and think what can I do to make this right? What can I do to be a blessing? What can I do that could bring a new outlook on this situation.

"Every experience of genuine pleasure is fully tasted, not with the connoisseur's boredom born of sampling a dozen wines to know what's best, but instead with the delight that makes this glass most enjoyable." (Emile Giffin)

Not every situation may be your glass of wine, might not be pleasing to your palette but with grace and mercy you hold your glass high with poise. You can achieve a deep down joy that a true connoisseur of life can look back and smile.

You are loved!



~Melody~
The Everyday Quaintrelle