When I was on air as a radio host, something very interesting happened. I would go on air and always be happy. That was my job. In some ways I was paid to be happy. Let me just qualify, for the sake of those who used to listen to me, that I have been blessed with an optimistic personality with a tendency towards having a sunny nature! Most days, I’m happy, so expressing my joy for the first three hours of the day was not a chore. I very much enjoyed it and in most instances, it came naturally.
There were days, however, on which I was not that wildly happy. I felt sluggish, sleep deprived and below par. It was on those days that I felt I was paid to be happy and so got on with it.
This was where the interesting thing happened. I would walk into the studio with this less-than-happy feeling and I would walk out, happy! During the three hours on air, although I was feeling blue, I had practised happiness and came out of the studio having learned it.
Nowadays, I’m not paid to be happy, by a long shot, but on the days I feel miff, I try to remind myself to practise happiness.
- Smile and take control of negative thinking.
- Learn to be content.
- Find the root of what is making me unhappy and change my attitude.
That change of attitude is just so important.
I find myself needing to get rid of pride, get rid of selfishness and to change my attitude.
Philippians 2:5
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
When I look at the attitude that Christ had, it comes down to one main thought:
Sacrificial humility.
Philippians 2:6-8
Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
This is a hard standard to achieve. How does one do this?
I don’t know how. I am still learning.
But when I find myself getting bogged down in a mire of selfishness and bad attitude, at least I can identify it and start redirecting my thoughts and my attitude to the right Person, for Him to straighten me out.
And He does.
And my happiness returns.
And there’s not a cent involved!
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂