The Happiness Perspective

Camden 8.00am and 9:30am 19 January 2003
Philipians 4:4-13

So You Want to be Happy!

• Happiness is possible
• God intends for you to be happy
• Growing happiness is like growing a garden
• Needs planning; weeding; planting
• Major causes of unhappiness -
  • Guilt
  • Anger
  • Selfishness
  • Fatigue

Happiness is Relative

• You cause your own happiness
• Happiness depends partly on outward circumstances
• But mostly on what goes on inside us
• The challenge to keep our need in perspective
• Value what you already have
• The danger of gadgets!
• Philippians 4:11
• Wesley on Money

Happiness is Living Objectively

• A cause of unhappiness is wanting more than you can reasonably expect
• Unhappy people tend to be angry about the cards life has dealt them
• True happiness is not having but being!
• It is not in possessing but in knowing how to enjoy what we have
• We need to keep our materialism in perspective
• Do I really need the thing I want?
• Am I making the best use of what I have?
• Should I remember the need of others before indulging myself?
• What would Jesus do?
• We need to keep the opinions of others in perspective
• The need for social approval and the fear of rejection are powerful forces that move us toward or away from happiness
• You can't please everyone
• If you are waiting for sympathetic surroundings before you can be happy then you will be disappointed
• If your happiness depends on doing what others want you to do you will be spiritually and emotionally stunted

Practical Exercises in Living Objectively

• Write down five accomplishments or goals you desire to achieve in your life. Alongside each, give at least one reason why it's absolutely not necessary for you to get what you want.
• Identify five objects you already own-a car, stereo, boat, or whatever. Pray over each one of these things, asking God to help you value them more or to help you get rid of them if they are cluttering your life.
• List five people you care for very much. Beside each person's name, write down something positive you would want that person to have or to be able to do. Pray that each will get what you want for him or her.

Happiness is Living Objectively

• Think of some person you might have hurt or harmed. Pray for this person's healing and for the restoration of a happy relationship.
• Identify two or three people whose opinions you value and who have power to approve or disapprove of you. Think of some ways in which you can reduce this power without upsetting the relationship.
• Name five things God has done for you. Pray about each one of them, thanking Him for His bountiful gifts and asking for forgiveness if you have not been thankful.

Happiness is A Choice!

• Good for the corn but.
• You have to choose to be happy whatever the circumstance
• Happiness is a choice
• With people
• with circumstances
• Philippians 4:4
• Defining our happiness in terms of God's blessing
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Just For Today.

• Just for today I will set my affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
• Just for today I will not worry about what will happen tomorrow, but will trust that God will go before me into the unknown.
• Just for today I will endure anything that hurts or depresses me because I believe God controls what happens to me.
• Just for today I will not dwell on my misfortunes. I will replace my negative thoughts with happy and hopeful thoughts.
• Just for today I will choose to do some things I do not like doing, and I will do them cheerfully aid with a happy spirit.
• Just for today I will make a conscious effort to love those who don't show love to me and be kind to those who do not appreciate me.
• Just for today I will be patient with those who irritate me and longsuffering toward those who are selfish and inconsiderate.
• Just for today I will be courageous. I will take responsibility for all my actions and not blame others for the way I behave.
• Just for today I will not demand more of myself than I do from others nor condemn myself because I don't measure up to my unreasonable expectations.
• Just for today I will forgive all those who hurt me - even forgiving myself.
• Just for today I will choose to BE HAPPY! Getting Your Eyes Off Others
• Hebrews 13:5
• Envy causes unhappiness
• Second only to worry
• Happy people accept the give and take of life
• Envy distorts our ability to be grateful
• Envy diminishes our love for others
• Envy disrupts peace
• Envy misdirects our competitiveness
• Envy grieves God because it reveals a lack of appreciation for all in his love and care

Getting Your Eyes Off Others

• The only cure for envy is to a deep spiritual renewal which makes us thankful for what God has done in as
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
• Develop the habit of thankfulness
• Philippians 4:4-7
• Envy and self pity are the same emotion
• The happy person rather than wasting time on self pity goes to the source of all comfort
• 2 Corinthians1:3  "The God of all Comfort"
• Isaiah 66:13

Happiness is Living for the Present!

• You cannot wait for the next stage of life to begin to be happy
• It must start now!
• It is easy to be seduced to believing that happiness is just around the corner and miss the happiness that is available now!
• The Tomorrow Syndrome
• Annie?
• Philippians 4:10-12
• We live in the hope of Christ's Coming and we rejoice in the present joy that he has already come!
• The 'Later' Syndrome
• We delay unpleasant tasks because it relieves some of the anxiety associated with the task but in fact we only prolong the anxiety
• The 'If Only' Syndrome
• The danger of dwelling on what did or did not happen in the past
• We all have the right to be imperfect
• The challenge is to learn from mistakes
• Living 'Here and now means enjoying the journey of life and not being so preoccupied with its destination
• Learn to savour the journey
• Enjoy what you are doing right now
• Ephesians 5:16  Colossian 4:5
• Redeem the time - make the most of every opportunity
• Make every moment count

Redeeming the Time.

• Always tackle unpleasant tasks first Once you have completed these, completion of the easy tasks will follow naturally, and you will always have a sense of being up to date.
• Never believe that if you avoid problems and unpleasant situations today, they will go away tomorrow. They only get worse when you avoid them.
• Avoid the mistaken "positive-thinking" idea that "everything will work out fine." Most situations win only work out all right if you make them work out right.
• A common cause of procrastination is the fear of making mistakes. We would rather not act than act wrongly. This fear immobilizes many of us. The only way to overcome this fear is to take risks and believe that mistakes are necessary for growth.
• Stop striving for perfection. You cannot do everything perfectly so you might as well learn how to do things reasonably well and be content. Accept that all human beings, by their nature, are imperfect and fallible.

Happiness is Living for the Present!

• "unless you develop the habit of enjoying life in the present, you will not find happiness.. Living each day to the fullest - accepting the challenges and blessings each day brings with grace and faith and believing God is with you every moment - will guarantee a life of joy."
• Philippians 4:8-9,12-13
• Wesley on Money

Back to Talks Index

Home | Groups | Music | Youth | Activities | Services | Kids Stuff
Talks | Beliefs | Resources | Humour | Contact Us