1-31pm
Have you ever had an urgent need for happiness? If you don’t get happiness NOW, you’re going to be in big trouble. A heart attack? That’s an emergency. A house fire – yep! That’s an emergency. But HAPPINESS? Just imagine for one moment that happiness was the equivalent to food and water. If you went without happiness you would DIE! How would we live? I think we may see a few more of these signs around…
We could stop by there and pick up a bottle of happiness. Wouldn’t that be great?! I would definitely become a supplier. I would bottle it in a fragrance spray, so when someone walked past the person wearing it, they would automatically get a whiff of happiness. I would make a fortune! Or it could be sold as a medicine. A spoonful of happiness a day and you are guaranteed a lifetime of contentment! If it starts to wear off by the end of the day, just slurp down another mouthful and boom – the joy abounds!
Well life is not like that, is it!? Nope, even the sign is just a con to grab your attention and make you laugh out loud at the ingenuity of some people…
ROFL!
But I do have some emergency happiness tips! When you next feel down and need a mood lift, this is where you start:
1. Smile. It feels awkward when you are angry or depressed, but if you hold it for a minute, it will improve how you feel.
2. Change your mind. When you are miserable, you are thinking negatively. If you are a pessimist, you really need a strategy for changing the way you think. It’s easy to dwell on the bad. So when you catch yourself poisoning your mind with all the toxic stuff in the world, you have to make a concerted effort to replace those thoughts with good ones. Call to mind a favourite song and start humming it. It forces you to concentrate on something else. My emergency ‘go to’ strategy when I’m down is Psalm 121 – “I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I remember once sitting in the dentist’s chair while I had (45 minutes of) root canal treatment. Talk about emergency happiness needed! With my mouth wide open and my eyes tightly shut, I tried to call to mind all the Bible verses I’d ever memorized. So that took all of about 5 minutes, but it was a comforting distraction! Your mind is a powerful place. Use it wisely.
3. Get out. If I’m frustrated or angry or unhappy (or hormonal), the best remedy for me is to get out and get moving. Exercise – just a brisk 30 minute walk will make you feel better.
4. Phone a friend. Venting to someone you can trust with confidentiality is a great help in time of dire circumstances. Don’t vent on social media. You will regret it. Don’t vent to the local gossip. Only vent to someone you can trust will keep their mouth shut. You will feel better getting it off your chest and you will feel happier.
5. Do something nice for yourself. Be kind to yourself and speak words of affirmation and gentleness to yourself. I think this is very important if you live alone. But having said that, it is something I do almost every single day. I know it sounds crazy, but almost every time I look in the mirror, I tell myself I’m looking good!
6. PRAY! The true root of happiness comes in having a foundation that will not move. I have found mine to be my attachment to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Anchor. He is Unmovable. He is Unsinkable. He is Unstoppable. He is Unchangeable.
Isaiah 28: 16 …
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
That Foundation stone is Jesus. I have discovered He is the key to my happiness.
God bless you today!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gratitude/Happiness Pic… An amazing treat yesterday with Rudi and Mae Refae in Kalk Bay – a privilege to have breakfast with them on their 19th wedding anniversary… 