Finding Happiness
Happiness =
Hot chocolate on a snowy day
Hot bubble bath and your favorite tunes
Listening to a fire crackle
Getting lost in a great book or movie while snuggling in your favorite blanket
Fresh fountain drink - my choice of drink is a diet coke ... yum!
Going on vacation
Getting a package or letter in the mail
Hearing your best friends voice on the phone
Family gathering
Snow on Christmas
Thanksgiving
Hiking in the mountains
When your favorite artist or song comes on the radio
Getting married
Having a baby
Camping
Accomplishing a task
Hearing I Love You
Receiving a hug
Coming home to the smell of a crockpot meal
Smelling fresh cut grass
Firing up a grill for a tasty meal
Star gazing
Getting a massage or pedicure
The smells of fall - pumpkin, apple pie, rain
I could go on and on. I believe we can find happiness in everyday. As you were reading this list your mind may have gone to that place, bringing a smile to your face. Truth is, there are several things in our lives that brings joy to us everyday. Of course there will be hard times and even hard days, but I bet that within those hard times you can still think of one thing that brought a smile to your face or made you happy.
Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget to pause and enjoy the everyday. It's weird to think that it can be something so simple as receiving flowers from a loved one or taking a break to enjoy the outdoors. I now understand why my almost 2 year old gets frustrated if he can't be outside. Feeling the sunshine on your face and taking in a breath of fresh air does wonders for your mind.
One of my favorite things that my little guy and I do each day is take a walk outside. I love to watch him smell flowers and point at different things so that I will tell him the name of the object. He makes towers out of rocks and is the happiest little man around. King Benjamin said, "...put off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)
The lesson I learned here is that we don't need extravagant things in our life to be happy. A child is happy with something as simple as just being outside and playing in the dirt. We make our own happiness. It is up to us how we want to view each day and react to those things going on around us. We can become child-like, patient, full of love, and willing to submit all things to the Lord.
On those hard days find the small things that bring joy. Pray that the Lord will help you through those times and submit your will to Him. He will lead and guide your path as you are willing to listen to the council given. How grateful I am to know the power of prayer. The Lord has helped me on several occasions and I know He will help you as well.
Questions to think about:
Am I choosing happiness in my life? Do I take time to enjoy the small things? What makes me happy?
Family Home Evening Idea:
Ask each person to make a list of 3-5 things that make them happy. Talk about how happiness is a choice. We can choose our own happiness even in times of sorrow or frustration. Talk about why this is important to remember. Give an example of a time you may have had to remember to be happy in a difficult or frustrating time.
Follow up from previous months:
There are only two months left to complete your 2015 goals!! You can do it, we're almost there!
Hot chocolate on a snowy day
Hot bubble bath and your favorite tunes
Listening to a fire crackle
Getting lost in a great book or movie while snuggling in your favorite blanket
Fresh fountain drink - my choice of drink is a diet coke ... yum!
Going on vacation
Getting a package or letter in the mail
Hearing your best friends voice on the phone
Family gathering
Snow on Christmas
Thanksgiving
Hiking in the mountains
When your favorite artist or song comes on the radio
Getting married
Having a baby
Camping
Accomplishing a task
Hearing I Love You
Receiving a hug
Coming home to the smell of a crockpot meal
Smelling fresh cut grass
Firing up a grill for a tasty meal
Star gazing
Getting a massage or pedicure
The smells of fall - pumpkin, apple pie, rain
I could go on and on. I believe we can find happiness in everyday. As you were reading this list your mind may have gone to that place, bringing a smile to your face. Truth is, there are several things in our lives that brings joy to us everyday. Of course there will be hard times and even hard days, but I bet that within those hard times you can still think of one thing that brought a smile to your face or made you happy.
Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget to pause and enjoy the everyday. It's weird to think that it can be something so simple as receiving flowers from a loved one or taking a break to enjoy the outdoors. I now understand why my almost 2 year old gets frustrated if he can't be outside. Feeling the sunshine on your face and taking in a breath of fresh air does wonders for your mind.
One of my favorite things that my little guy and I do each day is take a walk outside. I love to watch him smell flowers and point at different things so that I will tell him the name of the object. He makes towers out of rocks and is the happiest little man around. King Benjamin said, "...put off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)
The lesson I learned here is that we don't need extravagant things in our life to be happy. A child is happy with something as simple as just being outside and playing in the dirt. We make our own happiness. It is up to us how we want to view each day and react to those things going on around us. We can become child-like, patient, full of love, and willing to submit all things to the Lord.
On those hard days find the small things that bring joy. Pray that the Lord will help you through those times and submit your will to Him. He will lead and guide your path as you are willing to listen to the council given. How grateful I am to know the power of prayer. The Lord has helped me on several occasions and I know He will help you as well.
Questions to think about:
Am I choosing happiness in my life? Do I take time to enjoy the small things? What makes me happy?
Family Home Evening Idea:
Ask each person to make a list of 3-5 things that make them happy. Talk about how happiness is a choice. We can choose our own happiness even in times of sorrow or frustration. Talk about why this is important to remember. Give an example of a time you may have had to remember to be happy in a difficult or frustrating time.
Follow up from previous months:
There are only two months left to complete your 2015 goals!! You can do it, we're almost there!
