“The 9 Choices of Extremely Happy People–Their Secrets, Their Stories”
I do not usually pick up self-help books, but the title was so intriguing (and I was so unhappy) that I decided to take a chance on it. Twenty years later, I am still living into the lessons I learned from this unusual research, written by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks. The book itself does not come from a Christian perspective, so as I read it, I modified their counsel somewhat to include God.
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Another Happy Choice: Hard Work
The deeper the relationship with the Lord, the more you and I will find peace in our thoughts about ourselves, our satisfaction in life, our general happiness and our ability to weather distress. Flowing out of our committed relationship with the Lord will come a commitment to other believers who are one with you and…
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Happiness: Ninth Choice, Truthfulness
It is important for you and me to know what we believe and keep integrity with those beliefs while at the same time show grace and generosity of spirit towards others who do not see things the way you or I might. Consider how closely the authors’ following counsel parallels the apostle Paul’s instruction on…
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Happiness: Eighth Choice, Generosity
God gives each person something to share, something uniquely ours to give, a portion that enriches the earth and the world, and if we hold back, others are impoverished by the lack of all the goodness we have to give.
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Happiness: Seventh Choice, Appreciation
Unlike so many other things in life, there are no ill side-effects for appreciation, it will always bring us joy and contentment.
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Happiness: Sixth Choice, Options
For happy people, every experience offers a new chance for adventure.
Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, How We Choose To Be Happy, 132
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Happiness: Fifth Choice, Recasting
Recasting is the choice to turn problems into opportunities and challenges, and to recast extreme trauma into something meaningful, important and a source of life-giving energy.
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Happiness: Fourth Choice, Centrality
What is your great passion? Everyone has something they love to do, and when pursuing that passion is central to our lives, we are happy.
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Happiness, Third Choice: Identification
Who I identify as is a big deal in our culture today. Who am I, inside? When I look at the mirror, who looks back at me? Believers understand this question deeply, it is everywhere in our scriptures.
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Happiness, Second Choice: Accountability
Foster and Hicks explain that accountability is the choice to assume full personal responsibility for your actions, thoughts and feelings, and the emphatic refusal to blame others or circumstances for your own unhappiness.
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Happiness, First Choice: Intention
There are nine choices Foster and Hicks discovered that consistently happy people make. Each choice leads to the next in a circular helix very like the chambers of a conch. The choice that launches all the rest is intention.
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“How We Choose To Be Happy”
Our constitution guarantees the right of every American to the pursuit of happiness, and you and I see the interpretation of that pursuit all around us. But, a lot of people are still not happy, no matter how hard they try. So, what is going on?
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About Me
My passion for the Bible began when I was eight or nine years old, somewhere in there, when on occasion my dad would take me to synagogue, where he sang. I remember watching the men in synagogue pray the words of scripture, murmuring and weeping, lovingly touching and kissing the Torah, and I wished I could read what they were reading.
Imagine, then, my wonder when I was given a Bible of my own!
