Do you tell everyone this when you are not happy?!
I have noticed my boss and some people will do this, like they want you to know right away. Is this good or bad? I supoose its honest and direct.
Whereas, if I am not happy I dont really tell everyone, I just kind of go to my room and cry.
Or maybe put on a rage song and yell at the top of my lungs (grunge music was good for this)
I think its because I dont really want to hurt anyone with my being unhappy, or make people think its all their fault. Then my unhappiness doesnt last for too long (after praying) cos being a misery guts isnt that fun to be around
Of course, one cant be happy ALL the time and you cant please everyone. Some people cope by drinking ('happy hour') but I never did that. Children just get happy meals from McDonalds. You can also go to a 'happy place' either in your mind or create one, and if Im not happy I kind of tend to change things around till I am happy. But I dont really tell other people that Im not happy cos what can they really do?
Doctors now can say 'take a chill pill' and actually prescribe anti-depressants. Or are their benefits to comiseration...like if someone tells you they are unhappy do you chime in and say yep life is pretty awful..!
I believe that there is a major difference between happiness and joy. Happy has to do with hap or chance. Joy, on the other hand, is a fruit of the Spirit. I believe that someone can be in a very unhappy situation and still experience joy. Here are some biblical examples of what I'm suggesting:
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus endured the cross by looking forward to the joy that was set before him or the time when he would ascend back to heaven and be seated at the Father's right hand after being resurrected from the dead. We see this foretold in the prophetic 16th psalm.
Psalm 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Was Jesus "happy" while hanging on the cross? I'd have to say no, but he had joy as he looked towards the future, nonetheless.
Peter had this to say about our "manifold temptations" or about the many and various trials that we face as Christians:
1Peter 1:3
Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Peter 1:6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see
him not, yet believing,
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
As Christians, we can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, even in the midst of manifold temptations, if we receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls, or if we keep our minds fixed on the hope that is set before us.
Personally, there are many times when I'm not happy, but if I keep my mind focused upon the right things, then I'm always joyous.