The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so. – William Inge
What if happiness was a choice?
Something we could develop habits and skills around.
Something to be cultivated and developed over time.
Probably worth a shot.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Kites rise highest against the wind – not with it. – Winston Churchill
I’ve never been able to come up with a great answer to the question “why do bad things happen to good people?”
It seems to me that bad things happen to everyone. Trying circumstances seem to be a certainty in this life.
We get to choose how we respond to them.
We get to choose how high our kite flies against the wind.
It doesn’t make the bad times better. They might not even be worth how high you fly in response.
But a positive response is better than a negative one.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. – Swami Sivananda
The Bible talks about doing your work as if for the Lord.
What a great attitude to take.
Life is full of the “smallest acts”.
We can choose to blow it off and pretend like it doesn’t matter.
But it does matter – because it is in the little stuff that we decide what kind of person we are.
Make it a great day.
Jake
The price of greatness is responsibility. – Winston Churchill
A lot of what we want lies on the other side of responsibility.
First, for ourselves. Taking responsibility for our actions is a great first step towards maturity.
Then, for stuff bigger than ourselves. Marriage, family, work – all become more and more of a blessing in our lives in proportion to the responsibility we take on to be a blessing and add value to others.
Where could you take on more responsibility in your life?
Make it a great day.
Jake
This one always makes me smile. Maybe it’s just the difference in height in the video.
Find something that makes you smile today.
A favorite song.
A favorite poem.
A favorite Bible verse or chapter.
Some time outside.
Something. Enjoy it. Take a moment to savor it. Hold on to the positive vibes.
Make it a great day.
Jake
I have for many years endeavored to make this vital truth clear; and still people marvel when I tell them that I am happy.
They imagine that my limitations weigh heavily upon my spirit, and chain me to the rock of despair.
Yet, it seems to me, happiness has very little to do with the senses. If we make up our minds that this is a drab and purposeless universe, it will be that, and nothing else.
On the other hand, if we believe that the earth is ours, and that the sun and moon hang in the sky for our delight, there will be joy upon the hills and gladness in the fields because the Artist in our souls glorifies creation.
Surely, it gives dignity to life to believe that we are born into this world for noble ends, and that we have a higher destiny than can be accomplished within the narrow limits of this physical life.
~ Helen Keller
Wow. Maturity check moment for me – I sure do complain a lot.
Instead, what if I took these words to heart today. The idea that we are born for noble ends with a higher destiny.
That all the joy and delight we wish for is actually right at our fingertips, waiting to be seen and appreciated.
Make it a great day.
Jake
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EQU5PCR6n/
We live out what we believe about ourselves.
A little longer video here, but stick with it until the end.
As I’ve gotten older and started to see the results of some of my own blind spots and limiting beliefs about myself and the world, it’s become clear to me that we are all experiencing some form of this.
We have a perspective on the world that isn’t entirely accurate.
Sure, it got us this far (and there’s lots to be thankful for) – but better lies on the other side of change. And change often includes a change of beliefs.
The main one I’d change for everyone if I had a magic wand – you are not “less than” in any way. It’s just not true.
You are a son or daughter of the Creator of the universe. He loved you so much He sent His son to die for you so that you can spend eternity together with Him.
He knew you were worth it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
"If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old." – Peter F. Drucker
Moving forward into growth requires building new habits and letting old habits go.
What is on your stop doing list?
This is an easy to forget area that can drive major change if we are willing to take a hard look at ourselves and how we spend our time.
If we can have the courage to look at everything on our current to do list as a possibility for something to let go of, we will be surprised at what we might see.
Take a moment today to make a list of your regular to-dos.
Get everything down.
Now be ruthless and get of everything except the essentials.
Narrow the list.
Focus.
If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.
Make it a great day.
Jake
The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy. – Henry Ward Beecher
The same is true of the rain.
The happenings of life happen to all of us.
It’s up to us to find joy in the good. Focus on what is pure and true.
We’ll all have our share of negatives. To be endured, learned from and grow from.
But what we focus on we will have more of.
It’s your choice.
Make it a great day.
Jake
https://youtu.be/9lKdHXfpsFQ?si=YuTGUg5avkrUPo1M
Well, this road will be hard
But we win in the end
Simply because of Jesus in us
It’s not if, but when
So take joy in the journey
Even when it feels long
Oh, find strength in each step
Knowing Heaven is cheering you on
The good guys win in the end!
So take joy in the journey and find strength in each step.
What a great reminder of what’s really important.
Make it a great day.
Jake
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