My lesson in Relief Society today was about finding joy and happiness in this life, and I thought, "Oh good, some material for my blog." Sadly I don't remember much of what was said during the lesson except for a quote from the movie, The Music Man. "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find yourself with a lot of empty yesterdays." Not what I want to talk about. After 30 minutes of writing blubber, I know what I want to write. Sorry I erased all the blubber. Hope it makes sense.
Over Christmas at my in-laws, we watched "Inside Out."(watch trailer here) I love Pixar. I really do, and this movie was so fun. Brief premise, it goes inside the mind of a girl named Riley and the "lives" of her emotions. They concentrate on the prominent emotions, joy, fear, disgust, sadness, and anger. It's a difficult movie to explain, so I won't attempt it except to say that "joy" is the most dominant of the emotions, but she has to learn how to live with other emotions especially "sadness." "Joy" realizes that there cannot be "joy" without the "Sadness." That bit to me was the most profound part of the movie. I have always understood the principle of opposites, and no not Newton's third law "for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction (although it fits perfectly to what I am talking about, and it goes hand in hand with gospel principle). I am talking about, "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." (2 Nephi 2:11, 13), and this movie made me think of it.
When I started my happiness journal, and then when I started this blog, I have come to understand more and more, that happiness is more of a journey. We don't just reach one moment of happiness, and boom we are done. We are happy. (That won't happen until after judgement and we live with God again) Most likely that happiness will fade, and we must find some more happiness. Don't misunderstand, there are people who seem to be always happy and chipper, and I love those people. I envy those people. They have a very unique perspective and personality. I, on the other hand, sometimes have to really search for my silver linings. A few of those extra happy people, one would be amazed to find out, that they have had the toughest lives full of heartache and sorrow. I always think of Job in The Bible. He really had it rough. He lost his wealth, his children, and was sick with boils and sores. Still, he remained "optimistic" that God would be good to him. Because of that "optimism" Job got everything back tenfold. I am sure the years to follow his ordeals were some of his happiest. Job had to go through hell to find his happiness again.
I wonder how many churches believe that Adam and Eve played a part in our understanding of happiness. Here is what I believe. Before the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve lived in a state of just being. They knew not good nor evil and in retrospect, happy nor sad. I cannot imagine a life without emotion. But when Adam and Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit, they came to understand happiness and sorrow. Without opposition what would be our purpose? What would God's purpose be? In verse 13 of 2 Nephi 2 (see link above) it says that if there weren't opposites then God would not be, because Satan would not be. In verse 25 of that same chapter it says "Adam fell that man might be; and men are, that they might have joy." God wants us to be happy, but first Adam and Eve must eat a fruit (or whatever metaphor you believe). What a wonderful gift they could give the world.
I would say I am a generally happy person. I am content and happy in my small world. I have had my ups and downs. I feel I definitely haven't had some of the more tragic downs as some other people. I also believe that God gives us our own set of challenges designed just for us. My challenges are mine, and they are not easy for me. Yours are yours, and they are not easy for you. Still those challenges can put many things into perspective. For those temporary trials, after they are done they are exhilarating. You can still find the joy rather easily. Now those life-long "chronic trials", they are a bit more challenging to stay positive. There is always a constant reminder of something bad. Those things that just can't be let go and forgotten. I know a lady who is blind. She has not always been blind, and I don't recall what made her go blind. I know she has struggled, and I am sure she gets frustrated. But she is one of the sweetest, kindest people I know, and one can't help but love her. I am sure she finds her silver linings and finds her happiness in other ways.
Many people say that happiness is a choice. Yes it is, and no it isn't. Yes because you choose how you react to situations. And no it isn't because it is impossible to be "happy" 24/7. There are things that will make you sad, or angry, or whatever. Quite frankly, happiness can be exhausting. Good exhausting, but exhausting. Remember opposition? Sometimes you need to shout out that anger to feel right with the world again. I write in a journal my bottled frustrations. It helps me, in the long run, be happier. But, for the sake of argument. Happiness is a choice. Here are 2 quotes to prove this point, and I will end it there and let you find your own happiness journey. I can only help so far with this blog in reminding you of things that might make you happy. The rest is up to you.
1. (I don't know where I got this, or who said it) "The key to happiness is letting each situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be."
2. From the LDS study book, "True to the Faith". Your success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on your responses to the difficulties of life."
Very good! Thank you for the reminders.
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