Dependent Happiness

I received this lovely compliment from a friend a couple of days ago.

"...thanks for the inspiration - I have garnered from you that you make your own happiness..."

And it got me thinking.

Why do we always think our happiness is dependent on people or things or circumstances?

When did that little lie creep in to our psyche? 

I'm not saying people, things or circumstances cannot make us happy, of course they can in many ways.

I guess what I am talking about is finding joy; happiness that is dependent on something internal instead of external.

I wouldn't say dependent happiness is something that we consciously believe but it still seems to have crept in.

Once I have the car paid off...

Once I am debt free...

Once I have saved to buy a house...

Once I loose 30kg...

Once I get married...

Once I have children...

Once I get this job...

Once I have dealt with ??? issue...

Then I will be happy.

Why?  What will be so different once you mark off those goals in your life?  Won't there just be another thing to replace it? If those things never happen, then what?

Happiness is finding joy in the little things.

Crawling around on the floor with your nephew.

Dinner with a friend.

Curling up in bed at the end of a long day.

A good cup of coffee.

Happiness is finding joy despite your circumstances.

I'm not talking about selfishness.  Taking the time to do little things for yourself is not always a selfish action.  I have learnt through my battle with depression that doing things that make you heart sing are important because you are important.

God created you perfectly.  He does not make mistakes.  Those things that make your heart sing.  Those things that give you joy. He created those things in you.  

My love for dancing comes from my gift of artistic creativity.  Sometimes God uses that gift through me for his good and sometimes he allows me to use that gift for no other purpose than to bring me joy.  To bring me to a place where I am more myself.

In the same way parents want to see their children happy, so your heavenly father wants to see you happy. Please don't misinterpret what I'm saying here I'm not talking about destructive behaviours, I am speaking of things that will fill you up not wear you out (or down).

I'm not saying that God doesn't stretch you or allow things to happen in your life to bring you closer to him.  He certainly does that.  Jesus came so that you may have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10) and I think we often misinterpret that verse.  Abundant life doesn't mean things or people or circumstances.  It means becoming who God created you to be; he's not going to hide it from you (God made you special for a special purpose... guess what it is?). 

Sometimes his ideas and our ideas are not the same but if you take the time to get to know him and listen to what he is telling you it will be worth it.  He isn't going to take you to a place that he hasn't prepared you for.

It makes my heart sing to know that writing down my experiences has given a friend the extra little push she needed to go back to dance classes.  It makes my heart sing just to put my words down and express myself.

What makes your heart sing?

Linking up with Amanda today for Desire to Inspire