Is the pursuit of happiness enough?

There once lived a man whose only concern was to rid the world of adversity, anxiety, and unfairness. After many years of research and contemplation, he concocted a brew of special ingredients. He then produced and bottled his concoction in mass quantities, hung out his shingle, and took the product to market. He called his invention “Happiness.” In a very short while, there were lines outside his door, wrapping around the city block corner. Orders for the invention came from the four corners of the earth. Success was his, he thought. People were coming for his invention, and the world was freeing itself of adversity, anxiety, and unfairness. Apparently, “Happiness” was the solution for all that afflicted the world and all its inhabitants.

In more time, orders increased and the line of people outside his home grew longer. He was producing happiness as fast as he could, but every day, he fell further behind. As his customers waited longer in their pursuit for happiness, they began to get upset and increasingly impatient. He, too, began to feel the pang of fatigue and began to tire of his work as he tried to fulfill others' orders of happiness.

One day a city official came to his door, and with stern attitude told him the city would enforce, and perhaps create, new ordinances against the production of happiness within the city limits. He was told happiness brought with it litter, traffic, wear and tear on public property, and complaints from the neighbors about excessive noise. In addition, the success of happiness in the marketplace brought about acquisition attempts by other businesses. Every week unveiled plans of yet another unsuccessful hostile take-over by another company. Other businesses produced clones of the product, and unethically infringed upon his invention's formula, patents, and copyrights. It came to him one day, as he sat in his office, that happiness--or at least the pursuit of happiness--was in some way bringing out the worst, and not the best in people.

One morning as he woke up from an uneasy night’s sleep, staring up at the ceiling from his bed, a strange thought entered his mind. He thought the pursuit of happiness was, within itself, its own evil. He realized happiness in and of itself, would not rid the world of its issues and that the pursuit of happiness could be an oxy-moron. As he lay in bed, worn from work and lack of rest, his revelation brought him a sense of peace. In that moment he came to accept that he could make a difference, but he could not change the world. He came to understand happiness for each person is different, and that the world--complete with its issues--is fine the way it is.

He rose from his bed, and as he did, he had yet another revelation. He found himself at peace and discovered that being at peace was greater than pursuing happiness. He concluded that happiness is a bi-product of peace, and being at peace is the pre-requisite to experience happiness.

Most of us live by “The pursuit of happiness,” and we live to exercise our right to be “happy.” Yet, like the plague, all sorts of unhappiness affect the lives of millions of children and adults in America, and around the world every day.

I have had many conversations with people in pursuit of happiness, and many of them have said, it is not just happiness they want, but something else. It is right in front of me, they say, but I can’t seem to put my finger on it! If we were to be honest, most of us would say it is not happiness we are looking for– but something deeper. To this I reply, “Peace is the foundation that holds and shapes our happiness. If we lose our peace, we lose our happiness as well.”

The “Principle Living” perspective is that there are three planes of existence: spiritual, personal, and public. Peace exists spiritually, Joy is personal, and Happiness manifests publically. Peace makes Joy possible, and with joy, happiness is always available.

It may not be the best analogy, but as I have said many times… “Peace is to happiness what cake is to icing.” Happiness is not achieved through outward exertion, but in inward expedition. Through prayer, meditation, and maybe a small dose of forgiveness, Peace is discovered. Happiness is what you experience from having done all you can do to discover and protect your peace.

Pray and meditate daily… it makes a difference.