The formula for happiness

"I am blessed, I'm not depressed" is a statement often spoken by a parishioner at my church.

Jean wheels around the assisted-living quarters of the nursing home where she resides. Her motorized wheelchair allows her the mobility she needs to spread good cheer even though she can barely see. Yet she's clueless of the positive influence she has on others. People want to imitate her.

I wonder why some feel blessed and others depressed? Happiness is something we all want but few ever achieve. Dr. Richard Carlson, psychologist, says "Happiness is characterized by feelings of gratitude, inner peace, satisfaction and affection for us and for others."

Most approaches to happiness recommend changing something in our lives. However, when the problem is gone or the desired state of life has been attained, you may still be unhappy. Contentment and joy reach far deeper.

Rather than accepting what's inevitable, many choose to rebel against their situation complaining, "Everyone needs to know what I must endure." But rather than receiving the sympathy, compassion or empathy he craves, he is more often shunned. He causes those who visit him to be depressed because of his negative personality. Why are some grateful and others despairing within the same circumstances?

Jesus encountered people who grumbled about their lot, so he offered solutions. However, those remedies failed to be welcomed during Jesus' day any more than they are now. He offered no quick fixes to the crowds during that seminar on happiness -- the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus neglected to take away their troubles. Instead, he told them to gain a new perspective. He made no excuses by saying, "Some simply don't have it in their nature to be happy." He spoke to the people as a whole and allowed them to see that regardless of one's state in life, health, material status, power or how much he is loved; his life would remain in turmoil without the right attitude. Happiness and joy didn't come from anything one could necessarily hear, touch, see or feel. It came from the heart, evolving into thoughts.

Jesus emphasized this truth by offering characteristics that bring happiness. He called them the beatitudes, meaning blessed or happy. People fail to recognize that the qualities for happiness were first thought of by the greatest psychologist of all, Jesus Christ. Jesus' teachings counteracted false assumptions people held, for years. Those beliefs were that circumstances were what made one happy or unhappy. Doctors in the mental health field are just now discovering what Jesus knew and taught many years ago. That happiness lies within oneself. It's not an outside job.

All the beatitudes begin with the word blessed (happy). And after each condition for happiness Jesus promises a reward. He said, "blessed are the poor in spirit," and assured them of the kingdom of heaven and so on. He guaranteed "the peacemakers would be called sons of God." To those who were insulted and persecuted, with people saying all kinds of evil against them because of him, Jesus pledged great rewards in heaven. Rather than advising them to reciprocate the bad treatment, he told them to "Rejoice and be glad." The beatitudes are indeed a treatise on happiness (Matthew 5: 2-12).

Abraham Lincoln said, "Man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be." I believe Jesus was promoting that same concept, except he promised a spiritual trophy after each quality. "Blessed (happy) are the pure in heart -- for they shall see God," (Matthew 5:8).

Jean continues maneuvering around in the nursing home, letting her light of acceptance, through faith, shine so others may see her example and glorify God. She has indeed found the formula for happiness. One only needs to hear her say, "I am blessed. I'm not depressed."

~ Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral Parish.