Can you imagine someone being consistently happy?
I mean someone like you. Someone who answers to a boss, deals with cranky clients, carries financial responsibilities and understands that Iran is going nuclear.
With all that stress, who has space for happiness?
Yet, Jewish wisdom thinks it’s possible; Actually, more than possible: Imperative.
Imagine someone who wakes up in the morning and says “I accept that
G-d created me for a purpose: G-d wants me to transform my life into a
vehicle for meaning. And when I rise above my day's challenges to make
moral, Higher-Code-based decisions, I exercise my soul's Divine
character; I transform my day into a spiritual gym and a framework for
goodness and holiness. If I can stay out of anxiety's clutches, and make space for my inner G-dliness to shine, I’ll have lived a meaningful day and made my Creator very happy."
With that mindset, if you can maintain it through the day, would one not feel inner contentedness, even happiness and life's opportunities?
With a meaning-based mindset, every challenge is a test of one’s moral strength, and there's a personal victory to be celebrated on the other side of each hurdle.
The day is the soul’s obstacle course, and I’m competing against myself. As long I’m staying conscious of my purpose, I’ll be able to celebrate personal growth as I go through the day.
Proverbs (15:15) tells us that: "A Good-hearted person perpetually celebrates."
The heart represents one's passion. If my passion is directed toward my own pleasure and comfort, if my drive is to have a stress-free day, then I'll often be frustrated. Unless I spend my day distracting myself, trying to ignore the real world, life will have too many curve balls it to be 'stress-free'.
But if my 'Heart', my passion, is to lead a meaningful life, that meaningful inner focus can be a thread which runs through all my days interactions.
I can be happy without 'fun' or 'pleasure', even if I’m working hard.
Because it’s about the meaning; which means it’s about my own perspective and how I see my life’s purpose.
Today is the beginning of the new Jewish month: Adar. It's a month of enhanced joy, because it's a month when we have extra focus (with the celebration of Purim) on the beauty hidden behind life's facade/mask.
Celebrate life!
ב"ה