In the 2005 movie adaptation of Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice (Directed by Joe Wright, Screenplay by Deborah Moggach) Mr. Bennet, played by Donald Sutherland, closes out his final scene saying, “If any young men come for Mary or Kitty . . . send them in. I’m quite at my leisure.” Then Mr. Bennet leans … Continue reading The Habit of Contentment
Happiness
Pursuing Happiness
What makes you happy? When are you feeling your best? We live in a world that looks for happiness. Even the Founding Fathers of the United States include the pursuit of happiness as one of mankind's inalienable rights. (Note that to pursue happiness is a right, not happiness.) According to these men, this right is … Continue reading Pursuing Happiness
Keys to Happiness
A list and a song this morning:Start with a SMILE.Focus on others above self.Value relationships above possessions.Be a servant instead of the one served.Accentuate the positive over the negative.Be active, get off the couch.Read a book, turn off the TV.Avoid the fake euphoria produced by chemicals (alcohol, drugs, etc.).Take a walk in nature and enjoy … Continue reading Keys to Happiness
How to be Happy
Ecclesiastes 3:12 says, "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live," (ESV). Here are a few simple rules for a happy life: 1. Decide to be happy. Happiness is a choice. Look for pleasure in the most simple things. 2. Rule … Continue reading How to be Happy
Happiness & Marriage
Hugh Down's once said, "A good marriage is supposed to be a 'happy' marriage, but I have always thought that happy is a slightly misleading word. Some people think that happiness implies only good things without any bad. That's true, of course, but happiness can imply more than just good things. There is a … Continue reading Happiness & Marriage
What Makes You Happy?
Happiness has less to do with what we have or accomplish and more to do with what we value. In the July 2008 Reader’s Digest, Arthur Brooks’ article “Why We’re Happy” explains as Mr. Brooks states, “I had always thought that marching to the beat of my own drummer and making my own values as … Continue reading What Makes You Happy?
Driving Thought 