'TEN RULES FOR A HAPPY MARRIED LIFE (1)' BY DAVE WILLIS.

We all want to be happy, but for most of us, happiness is just this elusive “feeling” we’re trying to create but we don’t know how to keep it. What if there was a proven path to true and sustained joy? What if happiness is something much more than a fleeting feeling that comes and goes and it’s really a sustained joy that could be present through even the most difficult parts of life?

I have good news, there really are some “rules” that can create true happiness. I’ve paid close attention to the lives of the happiest people I know and I’ve measured their lifestyles against the timeless truths of Scripture which provides the ultimate roadmap for discovering purpose and joy. There is a roadmap to happiness and I call it The Ten Rules for a Happy Life.

There’s one item that is not on the list of ten below because I feel that it needs to be addressed in a category all by itself. This issue can be the biggest cause of grief in your life or the biggest source of peace. I’m referring to FORGIVENESS. If you truly want to be happy, you must embrace grace as a lifestyle. Accept the gift of grace Jesus has made available to us all and then extend that grace to everyone who offends you. Grudges create bitterness. Forgiveness creates freedom (and happiness). Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free!

True happiness and joy are much deeper and richer than a one-size-fits-all, canned approach to reaching them, but I’m convinced that if you’ll follow the Ten Rules for a Happy Life it could make all the difference.

If you want to be happier, please do the following ten things (in no particular order)…

1. Think of others more than yourself: This one goes against our human nature because we’re all more selfish than we’d like to admit. The worldly pursuit of happiness involves loving things and using people, but God’s plan for happiness (modeled perfectly by how Jesus lived) is in serving others. It’s not thinking less of yourself; it’s just thinking of yourself less. Pride and greed and self-centeredness lead to misery but serving others and loving others leads to joy.

2. Smile and laugh as often as you can: Even in difficult moments, find reasons to laugh. Sometimes you have to choose to smile even when your face wants to frown. Studies have shown that the simple act of smiling (even when you don’t feel like it) can actually make you start to feel happier. You have more control over your mood than you might realize. You don’t have to follow your emotions. You can actually lead them most of the time.

3. Spend less money than you make: Happiness isn’t the result of how much money you make BUT it could be impacted by how much you spend. In short, debt leads to stress and stress is a killer of happiness. If you live within your means and you choose to be content with what you have, you can be happier with a simpler life than the richest man in town is in his mansion. Don’t expect to buy more things to make you happy. Giving money is actually a better strategy for finding happiness than spending money.

4. Be an encourager; not a critic: Your words have the power to build up or tear down. Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already. The tone of your words will shape the tone of your life. When you choose to encourage others, they’ll be more likely to encourage you and the happiness you give will come back to you. We usually receive back the very things we give, so give good things in your words and your actions.

[TO BE CONTINUED…]

BLESSINGS

DAVE WILLIS.