I ran across some research the other day that offers up some really powerful insight as to how to attain happiness. It seems like it was copied straight from the Bible, but, interestingly enough, it was from a “secular” source. In no particular order, here are the 4 things we have to do to be happy and my brief description:

1) Thankfulness- Thankful people are happy people. Being able to find the good in everything, living contently, and appreciation of who and what you have leads you to have a brighter outlook on life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to, “give thanks in all circumstances…”

2) Helping Others- Remember the old adage, “it’s better to give than to receive”? Seems that it is true, although you couldn’t convince me of that when I was a kid. Helping others has many benefits, but one of the most obvious is it gets our attention off of our problems and helps us realize that others have problems that make ours look miniscule.

3) Community- Doing life together not only gives you people to have Pinterest parties with, but it apparently contributes to your overall happiness. Logically, we can see how having a shoulder to cry on, a sounding board, and wisdom and advice from loved ones can create a better, happier life.

4) Spirituality- According to the research, having some kind of spirituality makes people happier. While I certainly agree with that, I also believe that specifically having a relationship with Jesus, who is the source of all hope, is the pinnacle of happiness. It really is a freeing experience when you come to grips with the notion that you aren’t in complete control, and there is a greater power at work on your behalf.

There you have it! The only thing left to do know is sing… “Don’t worry, be happy…”