Happiness comes from... within?

"Happiness comes from within."

You hear that a lot. It's so popular today, we just buy it. But how true is it really? Seriously! I mean, hasn't science progressed far enough for us to test this notion? Don't we have clinical evidence proving that positive circumstances and events put us in a positive mood? Don't we have proof by now that the wrong hormones or chemicals in our bodies can put us into a foul mood? Hasn't it been demonstrated conclusively that just looking at the photo of someone you love affects the pleasure centers of our brains? Why then do we continue to disregard mother nature and insist on following this pop-psychological nonsense talk?

The fact is, our environment affecting our emotions has a very good purpose. It reinforces good behavior and it discourages bad behavior. Now I am generally a proponent of "fake it till you feel it," but when we continuously put on a happy face when we are not truly happy, we generate a sort of numbness that just becomes habit. We put on a happy costume that just isn't real. We go about our daily lives accepting our fate and we just pretend that we are happy. I am reminded of 1984. It's no wonder that the pop-psychologists today advocate that we fake being happy. They are in bed with the globalists who want our masses to be brain-dead, sitting in front of the idiot box.

This "happiness from within" notion placates us. It encourages us to stay the course and not rock the boat. But if we accept our unhappiness, maybe we'll do something about it. Maybe we'll quit our job and find a vocation that suits us. Maybe we'll get out of the house and actually meet new people. Maybe we'll take up a hobby and make something of our lives. Maybe we'll get closer to God.

See? Don't just assume that you are happy because someone told you that happiness comes from within. If you aren't happy, and aren't capable of generating happiness yourself, don't think that you are broken. Those other people who get their happiness from within... they're lying. Not so much to you but to themselves.

If you are one of those people who thinks that your happiness comes from within, examine yourself. Examine your life. Imagine removing the positive things that affect your mood. Your job. Your home. Your possessions. Your family. Your children. Your spouse. Your health. Remove those things. Now put on a life of failure and ridicule. Imagine if you failed at everything you did. Try to remove yourself from the question. Put on the identity of someone who hasn't been blessed with your life, your upbringing, your personality. And most of all, examine your relationship with God. How is that relationship? Is it thriving? Now, imagine if you can, removing that relationship. Now, can you honestly say that you would still be just as happy as you are now?

You're lying, or you just lack an imagination. Even Jesus wept.

Want to know where true happiness comes from? I'll tell you. Satisfaction. Satisfaction after a period of starving or fasting followed by your favorite meal. Satisfaction in struggle followed by triumph. Satisfaction in a job well done. Satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens your family is there for you. Satisfaction in God's love for you.

Ah, that last one. Job (you know, the guy Satan persecuted?) is of course the stereotypical victim. But he doesn't have a victim mentality does he? No. But does he try to generate his happiness from within? Nope. Does he fight tooth and nail and determine that he will get his life back on track no matter what? No! He cries out to God! He praises God and trusts in Him. And God gives him strength. Job has the satisfaction of knowing that no matter what, nothing can take away God's love.

What can we learn from Job? That happiness comes from within? Absolutely not! Happiness definitely comes from without.