Five Biggest Tips for Happiness

I have learned a lot over the years about the path to happiness, oftentimes from failure or personal faults that needed to change to grow.  So, for this post I will list five that I think are very important.  Why five?  Because, people like articles that list with a number... ha.

Pride and Perfection

The first thing that I need you to realize is something that feels backwards.  You need to realize that you have a lot to learn and faults to change.  I am linking pride and perfection, as one leads to the other.  Someone is seeking to be perfect and that leads them to feel defensive when someone finds fault in them.  However, Jesus had it right when he put getting better after confession.  If you cannot confess your faults, you cannot improve them.  I have a lot of past faults that I am trying to improve and change for a better life outcome and things that I have yet to improve.

Value Yourself

It is good to have a good heart that seeks to help others, but you need to have boundaries on how far that will go.  The first and last person in your life will be yourself, and you owe a responsibility to that person.  Anyone that really cares for you will want you to do what is right and best for yourself.

Trust the Process

You cannot know how your life will change, because you cannot know who you will become as you grow and what new things you will learn.  I know it is easy to feel wounded from the past and want to put up walls, but if you try to control your life you will never really live and become the person that you want to be.

Cut Others Slack

Everyone is going to make mistakes.  We are all human and have a lot of stuff in our heads and hearts from the past and pressures and stress in our current days and more.  People that feel hurt can be harmful, but if you attack them for their harming you give them another hurdle to overcome.  That is why Jesus said to love everyone, even those that cause us harm.  Because, it is the only way that we bring love and peace back to our world.

Keep Going

Finally, keep going.  Keep going when you feel tired.  Keep going when you feel alone.  Keep going when the odds are against you.  Keep going when it is hard.  Keep going when you have setbacks.  Because, whatever is happening now is just a starting point and tomorrow is going to be based upon what you choose to do today.  So, give it your best.  I look forward to your success.

The PERFECT Enemy

Do you know what I think is the unifying factor in mant of our mental and emotional problems that we have today?  Indeed, I'd say most of them and financial and other problems, as well.  I think it is the expectation of perfection.  It is the perfect enemy... because the enemy is being perfect.

Someone is depressed about their body.  What is the enemy... perfection.  Someone is depressed about their income or family structure or clothing or really anything.  What is the enemy... perfection.

This stretches into the realm of diversity in that someone has an image in their head about how others should look or feel or act.  When they confront many that do not look or feel or act like the perfect stereotype, they are bothered.  Is it the person doing something against them?  No.. it's just not that person's perfect society view.

We are not made to be perfect.  Indeed, the Bible Christians use says it is not possible to be perfect.  ALL are fallen, they say.  Well, surely then after accepting Jesus they will be perfect.  Nope..they will keep not being perfect the rest of their lives.  So, why do we keep using perfection to judge our lives and the lives of others.  Better to be good to others, which everyone can do.. saved or not..and be happy with who you are and accepting of who others are in a changing society.

Failure to reach perfection is not a variance in society.  We all do it.  If you understand that,  a lot of our criticism of ourselves, our lives, and others disappears.  All we really need to do is embrace imperfection in order to be more happy in our lives.