I was once told that when I speak publicly, I’m too happy. It was meant as an insult, but I took it as a compliment because I want to be someone who feeds happiness and shares it around.
But how do you feed happiness? For me, it means purposely looking for the good, listening to uplifting music, and watching happy movies (I prefer to not watch sad or depressing movies or television shows and yes, I check the endings and reviews before I watch :)
Feeding happiness means focusing on inspiring people, spending time with Jesus and knowing Him, and surrounding myself with relationships and pursuits that bring joy.
Other keys to feeding happiness are determining to count your blessings and practising gratitude. It’s taking time to engage in random acts of kindness, responding actively and constructively to others and celebrating when people share good news with you.
However, feeding happiness contrasts with what surrounds and encompasses most people’s lives. One look at the feeds on social media, the news, movies, entertainment and people’s conversations, and you’ll soon discover that many of the world’s influences are not designed to feed happiness but rather despair and hopelessness.
This is why it pays to choose wisely what and who we put into and surround our lives with.
Today what are you “feeding” on? Ask yourself, "why would I want to focus on the negatives when there are so many amazing, wonderful people, places and blessings that God has chosen to surround me with daily?" Then choose the opposite of the negativity and feed happiness.
God says that His mercies are new every morning, that He is faithful to His promises and that He will complete what He has started in you. He declares that with Him, you have overcome the world. (Lamentations 3:22; Duet 7:9; Ps 138:8; John 16:33)
The question is, are you feeding on what God says and the truth of what Jesus has already done for you, or are you feeding on the accounts of hopelessness, lack, sickness and fear?”
Every day you have a choice, but today I encourage you to decide to “feed happiness.”
It will change your life; not only will your perspective change from fear to hope, but in choosing to “feed happiness”, you will quickly become a source of blessing and constant encouragement to everyone you meet.
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard, saw, and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” (Philippians 4:8-9 The Message)
“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Prayer: Lord, I give you all my worries and concerns today and exchange them for your joy. Please help me to feed happiness today in all I listen to, watch, and choose to be part of. In Jesus name Amen.