“Happiness” by Ken Dodd, and “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, which has had over 1.1 billion views on YouTube, are the happiest songs I’ve heard on the subject of happiness. But what makes you happy? In today’s Daily Express, we read about pensioner Mike Leaver, who lives on £25 per week in an old, static truck in North Wales. Mike says: “As a committed vegetarian and recycler – who has never owned a television or been tempted to consumerism – I keep my living expenses extremely low. For example, I burn scrap wood, heat my shower water on gas rings, and eat cauliflower leaves with gravy. I hope to persuade others to pursue this path to happiness, especially in these harsh economic, social, and environmental times.”

An alternative to Mike’s path to happiness comes from the United Nations. Today is their International Day of Happiness 2023. On their website, the UN has listed its ‘10 Steps to Global Happiness’ for 2023. These include: do what makes you happy today and everyday; attend a world happiness event; promote the UN resolutions on happiness; advance the UN global goals for sustainable development; adopt Happytalism. But their two steps that seem to be possibly the most effective in making us happy are: to give and spread happiness to others, and to enjoy nature. Often it’s when we take our minds off ourselves and concentrate on caring for others and making them happy that we find our greatest joy. Similarly when we surround ourselves with nature, recognising that this world is bigger than our self, and take time to enjoy the beauty of Creation, we can often feel uplifted and refreshed.

The promptings to serve others and to care for nature come originally from the pages of the Bible. In there, we also find Jesus sharing the true steps to eternal happiness. Called the Beatitudes, they show that those who live humbly today will know an eternal happiness from God that ‘me-first’ folk cannot recognise. For example:

“Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
“Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
“Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!”

Matthew 5:7-9 (GNT)

True happiness comes from knowing you are deeply loved by God, and allowing Him to fulfil His purpose for your life.

Have a very happy day!