Code to Happiness

As a little girl, I loved my long discussions with my mom. Often it was while she was preparing dinner, ironing, or doing the dishes. Many times she would listen to my philosophical questions and give me Biblical answers and follow up with examples. Other times she would pass on wisdom from her mother or grandparents.

I remember one time grasping with the concept of depression. She stopped her ironing and replied, “My mother used to always say ‘the reason most people are depressed is they spend too much time thinking about themselves. They need to stop thinking so much about me, me, and start thinking of others.’ ”

I never forgot that. When I fell into bouts of sadness, I remembered those words. Was I thinking too much about me me?

Now, of course, there are moments in life of true, heartbreaking sadness, but I have to admit,  more than once I realized I was just a bit self-involved.

Today the headlines are about the Code to Happiness. It’s no surprise to me:

After decades of studying and working with tens of thousands of patients, researchers at the Mayo Clinic say they’ve cracked the code to being happy….
And perhaps one of the biggest hindrances to being happy is too much thinking about one’s self, research shows.

I particularly like this line in the article:

“So for example, if you’ve had a difficult day, when you get back home, for the first three minutes, forget about it, park it, and meet your family as if they’re long lost friends,” Dr. Sood added.

Well, I couldn’t agree more! This is how I like to live.

But none of this should come as a surprise to the Bible believer. Jesus taught this:

Mark 12

28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^f 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

It’s commanded.
But the Bible even warns us about the future:

2 Timothy 3
…in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves.

How NOW does that sound? People are sad, depressed and very self involved. There is a whole medical and pharmaceutical industry dedicated to depression.

Well the research is in, and the Bible commands it.