In the pursuit of happiness

Apparently David Cameron wants to measure the happiness of Britons now, quite how you do that is tricky I guess and if you’re now thinking “resign Mr Cameron” then behave yourselves I am not off on a political rant here.

Moreover I am interested in both how you gage happiness and how you obtain it, so as I think it can be very subjective perhaps the place to start is to look at what makes me happy.

Now I am not going to look at happiness events, A wolves win, a night in with Deb without being interrupted by the girls every 5 mins, the entire xfactor studio being sucked up in a vortex and hurtled thousands of miles into space never to be seen again would all make me happy but they are events, unlikely, unrealistic events at the moment.

No I am talking about long term measurable happiness that we all long for so here goes, three things that make me happy .

Happiness is shared

I believe to be truly happy you need relationships; I am so privileged to be part of a great church, to have great friends, to be surrounded by a great family, to have a great wife. Paul writes in Philippians 1 how he prays with great joy when he recalls those he is doing life with. You want to get happy get building some great relationships with people who will do you good.

Happiness is confident

In the wise words of Pastor Bobbie McFerrin “don’t worry, be happy”. I sometimes feel we spend so much time worrying about what will probably never pass or that we can’t control we don’t have time for happiness. We worry about what people think rather than being secure in who we are.

We are so busy looking for approval, stop it!, seriously, we LIKE you, God LIKES you, you don’t need to become someone you are not just be the best you that you can be then celebrate that fact. God has said that he wants to make us a great people but so many struggle with that, we think it will lead us to be big headed or arrogant, it could if you let it but keep your feet on the ground and be confident in who you are and hey presto, Happy!

Happiness is progressive

I said earlier it is possible to have great moments of Joy but that in itself will not make you happy, happiness, true happiness comes from a sense of purpose and realisation of Destiny. Knowing where you are and where you are going, understanding what you are achieving and Building with your life.

So there you are my thoughts on happiness, do you agree, what have I missed that you would have included. Let me know but most of all stay happy!

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6 countries 5 days 1 great journey

Ok I have been a bit busy helping a friend move some stuff out of his flat in the French Alps.

In order to do this I had to drive from Cardiff (Wales) through England onto Dunkirk (France) across Belgium before a overnight stop at Luxemburg. The next day we diverted into Germany before heading down through Burgandy to the French Alps.

What a great journey, yes it was a lot of driving but it was worth it , the views looking over Grenoble and across to Mount Blanc were quite literally breathtaking.

It made me realise how important the journey is, and here is something that is bothering me at the moment, it has become rather in vogue to use the term Journey, I hear it not only in Church circles but in politics, in fact it has become a trendy analogy and that is dangerous.

It is dangerous because we sort of treat it like the flavour of the month, it becomes over familiar and soon goes out of fashion. I was listening to an interview with James Blunt where the interviewer made the point that the song “you’r beautiful’ became so popular it actually harmed his career because the public became sick of him.

I hope we don’t get sick or even blasé of the concept that the important thing about this life is not the events but the journey we go through. I hope we don’t become so set on getting there (wherever there might be) That we fail to see the spectacular scenery along the route of life.

This continental trip was primarily to do a job, to help move some stuff from one flat to another however I was blessed to see the vistas of the Alps, to experience Luxemburg which I want to revisit as it was a fabulous place, to relive some of my childhood memories eating frites and Mayo on the side of the road, to see the vineyards along the Mossel river. To experience some of the lovely scenery at the foot of the Alps, not to mention all the great food and wine.

We need to enjoy the journey of our lives, as I get older I realise it more and more