Mastering Attitudes – Making Peace

If you were to construct a definition of happiness, what would you include? Would your definition include only what you’ve experienced or what you would like to experience? It's difficult to admit the role we play in creating our own unhappiness, so we blame others for our despair. What about believing we bear no responsibility for someone else’s happiness?

What contributes to an overall sense of happiness is being able to have mastery over the good and bad events we experience. Mastery does not rule out what is unpredictable or uncontrollable but does embrace managing one's life so that the effects of unhappy events can be limited.

Happiness derives from learning how to sidestep negative situations. At this level of awareness and insight, we realize attitudes and behaviors can be changed. With anger and blaming diminished, making peace can become a reality. "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons and daughters of God." What a wonderful blessing Jesus has secured for you. 

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Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!

~Matthew 5:9 Good News Bible

So then we eagerly go after the things which mean peace and by which we help one another grow. 
~Romans 14:19 Beck – New  Testament in the Language of Today

Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart.
~Psalm 34:14 Good News Bible

Stifled by Grief?

We're never too old to be creative. What stifles creativity is being overloaded with expectations and self-imposed limitations. Managing daily routines like a career, family and home diminish the desire to be creative. Creativity requires a positive challenge to fire up the flow of new ideas.

One deterrent to creativity is grief, especially when several losses are experienced simultaneously without an opportunity to focus on each one individually. A middle-aged man related how he went through divorce, job loss and a move from his home, all within one month. It's difficult to be creative if the heart and mind are burdened down with emotional issues.

Jesus makes it clear that grieving is to be encouraged. Listen to Matthew 5:4. "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Jesus not only gives us permission to grieve but promises comfort when we do. To be comforted implies allowing healing and hope for the future as well as the blessing of creativity being restored.

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How happy are those who know what sorrow means, for they will be given courage and comfort!

~Matthew 5:4 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

~Psalm 119:49-50 New International Version

Create Happiness

A definite connection exists between creativity, happiness and the expression of joy that connotes inner peace. Creativity is not limited by age nor is it restricted by education or wealth. Creativity can include making a specific idea fit your need, regardless of who introduced it.

An elderly woman burdened down by illness possessed a gift for creating warm, inspiring religious poems she mailed out each day to other seniors from her church. Irrespective of how she felt, she consistently projected a contented persona, which she credits to her creative ability for encouraging others.

Despite the array of contaminants that flood our consciousness, everyone still is capable of possessing a pure heart. David asked God to create in him a pure heart. Have you asked God to do the same for you? Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." The pure in heart are the ones who acknowledge their need for God's redemption and pursue it like a wonderful treasure.

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Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God!

~Matthew 5:8 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord and enter where he lives? Who may stand before the Lord? Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying. They will receive God’s own goodness as their blessing from him, planted in their lives by God himself, their Savior. 

~Psalm 24:3-5 The Living Bible

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

~Psalm 51:10 New International Version

Grasp Creativity with Humility

Some measure of creativity is within everyone's grasp, but creativity varies according to the limits of each person’s expectations and personality. Billy’s father seemed to delight in telling him he would never amount anything. However, by God’s grace and mercy, Billy refused to permit a negative self-image to take control of his life.

One attribute that made a difference in Billy’s life was being observant of other people's achievements and what exactly contributed to their success. He then assimilated what would be useful for his success that depended on his capacity for creativity. Tools for success can be borrowed from those who serve as role models.

Life can be difficult, but people who are creative and reliable can be outstanding in their ability to use barriers as a means for reaching their objectives. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant by, "Blessed are the meek (the humble, the patient, the gentle) for they shall inherit the earth." Realize God is the giver of creativity, so thank him for your inheritance. 

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Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them.

~Matthew 5:5 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

This is the Lord’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.

~Isaiah 66:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Scriptures say, “God opposes proud people, but he helps everyone who is humble.” Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes.

~1 Peter 5:5-6 Contemporary English Version

Want to Be Filled Completely?

Everyone has been guilty of seeking shortcuts to happiness. Parents have been duped into believing if children have enough toys, clothes, cars and the latest electronics, they'll surely be happy. Yet children can still feel deprived, lonely and depressed. Living in a rushed, hurried world shrinks quality time for love and affection shared with their parents.

 

Once caught in this trap of indulgence, parents may need a miracle to break its stronghold, but habits can be broken. First, set clear-cut objectives for children to appreciate and respect what you provide, regardless of how little that may be. Although family time is hard to come by in our society, make it a priority, for this becomes a major contributor to happiness.

Re-assess your quest to satisfy yourself with indulgences to see if they provide the happiness you crave. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." He said this because he knew that whoever seeks God and his righteousness will have their needs satisfied completely. Be committed to this objective.  

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Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied.

~Matthew 5:6 The Living Bible

Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and be safe.

Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desire.

Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you.

He will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

~Psalm 37:3-6 Good News Bible

Dependency on God: A Bridge to Happiness

If you could write out a formula for happiness, what would you include as the essential components to ensure success? Most people have an innate range in their emotional make-up for feeling pleasant, optimistic and secure. Happiness has everything to do with believing life is rewarding and that positive good exists.

Happiness is not the absence of adversity. Helen Keller became blind and deaf at nineteen months of age. As an adult she wrote these wise words in her journal. "Many persons have a wrong idea about true happiness. It is not obtained through self-gratification, but through faithfulness to a worthy purpose." Helen knew what it meant to contend with adversity.

Researchers discovered that lottery winners return to their old happiness baseline within one year. Jesus gave us these words about happiness, "Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Those who are poor in spirit are not haughty or pompous because they realize they are spiritually poor and that all they have is dependent upon God's grace and mercy.  

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How happy are those who know their need for God, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs!

~Matthew 5:3 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

And yet the Lord is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord.

~Isaiah 30:18 Good News Bible

Tasting Adversity and Drinking Affliction

Regardless of social status or professional ability, adversity will eventually cross everyone’s path. Although difficult to accept, trouble does not have to be the worst thing you’ve experienced. Francis Bacon wrote, "While prosperity is not without many fears, adversity is not without comfort or hope."

The real test of character determines if you become embittered and lose hope. When God's people suffer immensely, he gives them these words of hope, "O my people, you shall weep no more for I shall be gracious to you. Although you are given the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, I your God will be your teacher."

Trouble and adversity will draw you closer to God and increase your dependency on him for help. The chance to re-evaluate the purpose and direction your life has taken becomes a requirement when trouble rattles your status quo. Adversity opens your mind to prayer by realizing life is so fragile you need God’s help to survive. God will help you. 

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The Lord is compassionate, and when you cry to him for help, he will answer you. The Lord will make you go through hard times, but he himself will be there to help you, and you will not have to search for him any more. If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear his voice behind you saying, “Here is the road. Follow it.”

~Isaiah 30:19-21 Good News Bible