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November 6, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
The Flow, by Rubel Shelly
Happiness is an elusive state of mind. Everybody wants it. Some people
make themselves miserable in pursuit of it. Still others try to be
happy while hurting the people around them. Lots of people complain
about the lack of it -- and blame work, family, fate, or God for their
sadness.
I don't have a simplistic formula to offer you. And I would warn you to
keep a safe distance from anyone who does! But I ran across some
research a while back that makes a lot of sense.
Most people appear to have one or both of the following expectations
about happiness: It is directly related to (1) my circumstances or (2)
finding the right person to make me happy. Both beliefs are dangerously
false!
First, money, awards, fame, and the typical trappings we link to
success don't always make a positive difference in someone's life.
Sometimes they only raise the level of stress.
One of the happiest people I ever knew didn't finish high school, was a
double amputee due to severe diabetes, and had a mentally challenged
daughter. He took pride in his work. He smiled easily and often. He was
more interested in other people than he was worried about himself. In
fact, I never got the impression that he begrudged any of the things
about his life that worried others for his sake.
It's your life's inner purpose that brings real peace.
Second, nobody should have the too-heavy-burden of trying to make
another human being happy. It can't be done! The term "co-dependency"
has been coined for people who are expecting others to fill up their
empty buckets. Don't expect the impossible of anyone in your world. If
somebody is looking to you for his or her happiness, resign that
miserable task today before it kills you.
A psychologist at Claremont University says the happiest people are
those who engage in absorbing activities that cause them to forget
themselves, lose track of time, and consider many of the things they do
both work and play. The term he uses for this phenomenon is "flow."
People who -- to use Jesus' language -- "lose their lives" (Luke
9:23-25) bringing sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from
creeping into their own! It is your life's inner purpose rather than
its externals that will provide real peace.
How about it? Do you know how to go with the flow?
---------
(c) 2007 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life"
printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for previous issues of
the "FAX of Life."
RELATED LINKS:
* The Truth About Happiness
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200702/20070223_happiness.html
* Happiness?
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200702/20070222_happiness.html
* The Happiness Test
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200702/20070221_happinesstest.html
* RubelShelly.com
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071106_theflow.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
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