An Exercise in Trust, an Opinion on Happiness

This week’s post is aptly entitled “An Exercise in Trust, an Opinion on Happiness” because it seems to be increasingly important to have faith in the natural cycle of things that happen in our day-to-day lives, and in the wider world that surrounds us.

Various constant and well-pronounced ‘worries’ appear to dominate our everyday: will I make enough money? Am I socialising enough? Is my family high enough on my list of priorities? For those without relationships, the question is always when? Or if ever? Overall, am I taking MY life in a meaningful, authentic direction? Is it an effort in self-service? Am I doing what I desire? To this question, many would answer no. Circumstances thwart our plans, our attempts; our intentions are always dampened by our demons: it’s all too difficult; I’ll never make it; am I kidding myself? And we seem to resent those who, at first glance, appear to be more ‘successful’ than we. However, what goes down must come up.

This is not to say be complacent and expect that our poor, hard-done-by circumstances will go away because they’ve been lurking around for some time. No. What is required is a combination of both assertiveness and adaptability, indeed action to create change, the change that we want to see; as well as a good-natured view of all issues that are thrown at us, with a generous portion of trust, a belief in the greater good and its potential to improve one’s existence.

With this firmly lodged in mind, don’t despair. Happiness, or contentedness as many prefer to say, is by no means something to have at each and every moment of the day. It is constantly changing, coming, and going. If we were ‘happy’ all the time, we wouldn’t know what it was anymore because anger and sadness and depression wouldn’t exist to balance it up. To be ‘happy’ all the time is unnatural. There is the notion out there that true happiness is knowing that one day you will be satisfied and content with what you do and have in your life, and the next day, you will not. This week’s message seeks to provide this basic definition and encourage one to trust in it.