It took me a little while to ponder on this topic, and indeed, I realized the many things that bring true happiness to me. I also realized how important they are to me, and pursuing them always isn't negotiable because why? Happiness is vital for our overall well-being. When I am happy, I have peace of mind, which is a luxury. Happiness has a way of affecting other areas of my life positively, so you see how much it is crucial for me to prioritize its pursuit.
Just before I checked this prompt topic this morning, I had a physical chat with my neighbor, who shared her burden with me, and it was just revolving around finding true happiness. And I was telling her that we can find true happiness in little things. Just discover those things that are capable of bringing happiness to your soul and pursue them. It is also important to note that what brings happiness to each individual may vary.
Personally, what truly brings happiness to me isn't totally wealth, although I wouldn't deny that I feel happy seeing a good sum of money in my account to solve life needs always, but then there was a time we had lots of money but it changed nothing. The happiness wasn't there; something was lacking, and money couldn't just fill the vacuum created. Having said that, there are things that I crave to always experience, and it genuinely brings happiness to my soul. I feel deeply happy seeing the true connection and peace that exists between me and my husband.
In the past, before I worked on myself to really deal with our differences and the things that bring conflict between us all the time, happiness was far from my soul. In fact, it always affects whatever I do—my spiritual life, my relationship with my kids, my job—virtually all things around my life will just be going sour because I had no happiness and, of course, no peace within. But everything changed when I started seeking genuine happiness, making every effort to live peacefully and avoid the things that take away my happiness at home and out there. Before then, I saw those actions as a chore, but when I started seeing results and feeling this unusual happiness within , I kept pursuing it with everything in me.
Then I also discovered that whenever I am not in a close relationship with God, I lack happiness. Then I began to examine my life and discover those things that disconnect me from the close relationship I have with God and always work on them. Sometimes, it can be difficult to pursue; it takes sacrifice and self-discipline, but when it brings me true happiness and peace, then it is important to my soul and my overall well-being, and again, it is worth pursuing.
Again, looking around my life, counting God's blessings, either big or small, and expressing gratitude brings true happiness to me, and many more things, as simple as receiving good compliments from people, just make me happy.
Finally, I have discovered that happiness is a priority I should strive to always embrace. It's also a journey and worth every effort I should make to seek it and have it!
So I will leave you with the same question from LOH: What brings true happiness, and how important is it to you to pursue it?
Images are mine