The Secret to Happiness

There is a common theme to many of the problems that our society faces; everything from fear of commitment to the divorce rate including cheating, the spread of diseases, and single parent households. Even large scale problems such as war and global warming can be attributed to this theme. The common theme is self-gratification. If people stop focusing so much on self and 'what makes me happy', the world would be much better place.

John 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

I think this message has a deeper meaning than the obvious.  I think that Jesus' example to the world was that of self-sacrifice. I think he was trying to teach the world that the way to salvation was not necessarily about praising him but more so from following his example of letting self die for the greater good of mankind.  When you look at the world today, we have more material goods and wealth than ever before, yet the world in is complete chaos.  Marriages are failing; the children are killing each other; and the economy is dying. I think that the human race took a wrong turn when we started thinking that 'life is short so we need to make ourselves happy first and foremost'.

Helen Keller said it best when she said, "True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose". Buddhist scholar Shantideva phrased it this way: "All happiness comes from the desire for others to be happy. All misery comes from the desire for oneself to be happy". The bottom line is that if you want to fix the problems that society faces and at the same time make yourself a little happier; start by thinking of someone other than yourself for a change.

Collectively Speaking

The world does not belong to you

It does not belong to me

It belongs to we, collectively

If we continue to abuse and misuse

The world will no longer be

And for you and me that means

Our existence will cease

So try to find peace within

And share it with a friend

Only then will the healing begin

We all have wounds that won’t heal

And emotion we’re afraid to reveal

Sometimes it’s easier to lash out than be real

But here’s the deal…

We are all part of a bigger collective

When we disrespect others

Its self that ends up disrespected.

One rejected soul

Goes on to make others feel rejected.

The rejected and dejected

go out and cause physical pain

Through rape, murder, drugs and gangs

It’s an insane attempt to regain

What they feel they’ve lost

and for society it has a high cost

Because when I can’t trust you

and you can’t trust me,

we destroy the sense of community

and we destroy ourselves collectively.

The world won’t survive if

we just focus on self

So each of us has to care about someone else

Negativity doesn’t just come from thugs on the street

It comes from people we’re close to and the new people we meet

Ministers beware of the topics you preach;

Hell and damnation

can spark discrimination.

Educators be careful of the words that you speak.

Don’t let rudeness and ignorance be the subjects you teach.

I will build you and if you will build me

We can increase the positivity and we will not only survive

But we will thrive;

Collectively

© 2011