Are We HAPPY Yet?

The question is simple but the answer is elusive and complex -- "Are we HAPPY yet?" I continue to be amazed by how quickly the days, weeks, months, and years pass by. The first month of 2011 passed by so fast that my 'things-to-do list' is already antiquated. In the midst of our frenetic lifestyles, I wonder how many of us are truly HAPPY! It is a question that I think deserves some dedicated introspection.

Some may argue that "Happiness" is a relative concept. In our world of synthetic reality, finding any "Common Ground" on the meaning of Happiness seems futile. Basically, what I might consider as "Happiness" may not even be close to what you consider to be 'Happy.' I think this obvious dilemma in striving to define happiness proves something very important -- we connect happiness to something that happens to us or to something that we can consume, possess, enjoy, etc. As long as I am consuming in some measure the things that I perceive make me happy, my answer to the question would be: "Yes, I am Happy!"

In my attempts to counsel with young people about the "realities of marriage" before they say "I Do," I ask them to share with me how their future spouse makes them happy. To be honest with you, I don't get too many in-depth answers. Again, this is indicative of our culture that places a high premium on personal preference to achieve our desired status -- HAPPINESS. I try to help these young, somewhat naive, couples grasp that, if another person is able to bring you happiness, then that same person can take it away.

Is there a way to find "TRUE HAPPINESS?" Is it possible for us to find "Common Ground" on the meaning of this thing called "Happiness"? Do we even want to know if our "perceived happiness" is real? Are we willing to risk the journey to identify what is meant by True happiness? Let me encourage you to take the risk and discover your "Happiness Quotient." Let me also assure you that "True Happiness" is not as elusive or "relative" as our Post-Modern world would have us believe. I am striving to take this journey myself so I will be sharing some things that God is showing me on this topic in the coming days. Please feel free to share your discoveries, insights, and struggles with me. As you can tell by reading this post, I have many more questions than answers on this intriguing topic of Happiness.