Increased Happiness for You

By Revd. J.A. Scholtz

Do you want to be happy? Of course you do. Rest assured happiness is within your reach, here’s how you will achieve it.

1) Serve Other People

It is one of life’s strange paradoxes that we find happiness for ourselves while trying to give it to others. When you did someone a good turn, how smug and ‘comfy’ did you feel inside? You were, in fact happy; deeply, truly happy.

The moral is obvious. If you want more happiness, help others more. Let your life be geared to the service of humanity. Look upon your daily work in that way. It will transform everything.

All around people need help. What can you do in spare time to relieve suffering or loneliness or poverty? How about joining some organisation which exists to help others? What about social service groups, the Samaritans, etc. Or privately, are there not a few lonely old folk you could visit, or some orphan you could befriend, or some sick people to whom you could write? In losing your life in this way, you will surely find it.

Give and you will receive. It is only through sharing that one learns to fully appreciate oneself and the world. Successful people know this secret. Rather than keeping 100 per cent for a small fish pond for themselves, they prefer to share the entire ocean with everyone.

To give, with no thought of what you can obtain in return is virtually a guarantee that you will be repaid. That is not to say that you will be repaid directly by the person to whom you have given. Remember, happiness is your birthright; don’t be content until you get a large measure of it. Of cause, no one is completely happy all the time. Frustrations, disappointments and sorrows are inevitable. They must be endured bravely, with no fuss and self-pity. That way it will not be long before you are happy again.

Don’t look for what you can take. Look out for what you can give.