being happy

Lately it seems that people are putting a lot of importance on being happy, of course, haven't we always? Yes, but no. Everyone wants to be happy, but it seems that less people are, and it is becoming much more of an issue. I want to be happy, you want to be happy we all want to be happy. Recently I've kind of been going off on emotional tangents but its not like its not related to my 'theme.' it is. People shape the world, and happiness shapes people. So all these seemingly innocent emotions really play a vital role in our world. If the people of America aren't happy, than the whole nation is discontented. I was watching Oprah today, and that’s kind of what got me started on this whole thing. She went to Denmark- the supposedly happiest place on Earth, everyone has equal pay and no one is afraid of losing their jobs- and then it hit me. Happiness is simply the absence of fear. When we fear nothing we have no reason to be upset. So if we are unhappy does it really mean we are afraid? I think so. Think about it- you’re afraid of losing your job, your house, your spouse, a parent, a friend, a football game. The list can go on and on. All these things can make you unhappy. But then again- does this indicate something? Not just the basic happy vs. unhappy, but does it indicate an unhealthy reliance on stuff? Not even material things but people as well. Ok so maybe it is valid to be afraid of losing your spouse- it should be that way, but do we really need things and people to make up happy? Unfortunately, yes. I think that we should all be working on how we think. We need to begin to recognize that there is something more than fear and stuff- we have a whole life to celebrate people and friendship and yes even stuff, but we need to focus less on those things themselves and more on the blessings they provide us with. That’s simply my thought for the day.