What brought me to the site was her post on personal commandments. Rubin developed a set of 12 personal commandments, overarching principles by which she tries to live her life. Taking months to assemble, Rubin reveals the depth of thought that went into compiling this list. The post includes her list as well as her insight on how best to create one for yourself.
Happiness is a choice. It has been my own personal commitment to discover the true meaning of happiness over the past few months. What I have found through my own meditations and readings is that happiness is not something you hope to achieve through any accumulation of things, arrival at a predetermined station in life, or relationship. Happiness is an inward journey. I've realized that happiness is always there for you to choose no matter your circumstance.
Having a set of individual commandments is a wonderful way to keep you on track, however. The key is to dig deep and really personalize this set of commitments to yourself to avoid falling into the old habits that have kept you from happiness in the past.
My first inclination is to compile my list in this moment and publish it with this post. I am fighting that urge in favor of allowing myself the proper time, meditation, and thought to truly come up with a set of life-enhancing, happiness-driven principles to apply to my life. I will be working on this and will share it at the right time. I wrote about patience not too long ago. Learning how to be patient in a process is challenging but much more rewarding. Being patient with yourself, allowing yourself the proper time to achieve a goal, is directly correlated to your success in that goal. I can't imagine any goal more important than happiness. I choose to live my life happy. I want to spread happiness in all that I do. I want my children to see me happy and I want them to be happy.
"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances." - Martha Washington
These are the words and posts of a clear headed, thoughtful person. dripping in them are the presumptions of dedicated actions backing up every word and every commitment. Is this Cheryltopia? or the outward attempt to scrub a complex life clean of all that makes it rich and worthwhile. For there is, after all, a kind of happiness in unhappiness.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, Enjoyed reading your thoughts on happiness. Reminds me of the words of Proverbs 15:13:
ReplyDeleteA happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
What are your discernments between happiness and joy?
I know james 1 tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance, and when we are tested and come through we shall be refined like silver... God does not promise us life without trials and tribulations. He promises us that He will be there for us / with us, that He will never leave us or forsake us. That's just the best news ever! Hugs to each of your precious girls! Love you dearly!