The Reason Why You Aren’t Happy.

I often wonder if people are as happy as they say they are. Then I see info-graphics like this:

and this:

–Washington Post 

and I start thinking, is it the money from the developed world that leads to its joy? What sustains happiness? 

When I was a pagan, I would have told you that happiness was personal. It required Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to be met, especially level three regarding personal attachment to someone (or some thing if you are a pet-lover).

As a Catholic, I contest that everything I thought as a pagan was wrong. Every. Thing.

I’ve come to discover that, while Maslow’s Hierarchy and beloved friends/ family/ a spouse are indeed necessary for survival, they do not lead to happiness. On the contrary, if not anchored correctly in virtue, they become highly volatile. In fact, each of Maslow’s Hierarchy of “needs” can become a means by which we attach ourselves to ourselves, which can ultimately lead to self-destruction.

If you are unhappy, you’re probably attached.

“The world can win its joys, and the world can equally well lose its joys. A change in fortune, a collapse in health, the failure of a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even a change in the weather, can take away the fickle joy the world can give. But the Christian has the serene and untouchable joy which comes from walking for ever in the company and in the presence of Jesus Christ.”*

How to Be Happy

Jesus’ words, not mine:

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
• Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
• Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called sons of God.
• Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

–Matthew 5: 3-12

Translation:

• “O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHO HAS REALISED HIS OWN UTTER HELPLESSNESS, AND WHO HAS PUT HIS WHOLE TRUST IN GOD, FOR THUS ALONE HE CAN RENDER TO GOD THAT PERFECT OBEDIENCE WHICH WILL MAKE HIM A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!
• O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHOSE HEART IS BROKEN FOR THE WORLD’S SUFFERING AND FOR HIS OWN SIN, FOR OUT OF HIS SORROW HE WILL FIND THE JOY OF GOD!
• O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHO IS ALWAYS ANGRY AT THE RIGHT TIME AND NEVER ANGRY AT THE WRONG TIME, WHO HAS EVERY INSTINCT, AND IMPULSE, AND PASSION UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE HE HIMSELF IS GOD-CONTROLLED, WHO HAS THE HUMILITY TO REALISE HIS OWN IGNORANCE AND HIS OWN WEAKNESS, FOR SUCH A MAN IS A KING AMONG MEN!
• O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHO LONGS FOR TOTAL RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A STARVING MAN LONGS FOR FOOD, AND A MAN PERISHING OF THIRST LONGS FOR WATER, FOR THAT MAN WILL BE TRULY SATISFIED!
• O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHO GETS RIGHT INSIDE OTHER PEOPLE, UNTIL HE CAN SEE WITH THEIR EYES, THINK WITH THEIR THOUGHTS, FEEL WITH THEIR FEELINGS, FOR HE WHO DOES THAT WILL FIND OTHERS DO THE SAME FOR HIM, AND WILL KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT GOD IN JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE!
• O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHOSE MOTIVES ARE ABSOLUTELY PURE, FOR THAT MAN WILL SOME DAY BE ABLE TO SEE GOD!
• O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHO PRODUCE RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MAN AND MAN, FOR THEY ARE DOING A GODLIKE WORK!”

-World renown scripture scholar, William Barclay’s words, not mine.

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If you are Christian, you are hard-wired to emit joy through the detachment of self and attachment to Christ. 

If you are unhappy, I question whether you are truly Christian.