I don’t often hear individuals talk a lot about “Joy”, but man, do they ever talk about happiness. And why shouldn’t they? I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy? Everybody does. We are in the constant pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, many are on an endless quest to find happiness. They go to Disneyland five times a year; they are constantly trading in the car for a one with the newest gadgets; and they are running after more alcohol, casual sex, and drugs. They are determined to find “happiness.” But they are on an endless quest to capture the elusive.
Psychiatrist Tim Jennings points out, that we cannot choose to “be happy.” Now you may be thinking, “What do you mean I can’t choose to be happy?” True happiness, as Dr. Jennings goes on to say, “is the byproduct of healthiness in all domains – physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual.” When we are sick or out of alignment in these areas, we are not happy.
All too often, individuals will substitute pleasure-seeking for healthiness. However, in violating how their bodies and minds were designed to function, they may be pushing happiness further away. They may chase after the next alcohol buzz; get caught up in gambling, or may use drugs to alter their mental and emotional state. But in doing these things, they move further away from physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual health and in turn move further away from happiness.
So, if you want to be happy this week, don’t pursue it – pursue healthiness in all areas. It will be much easier to experience the byproduct of doing so – happiness.