Wikipedia definition of Happiness.
Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happy mental states may also reflect judgements by a person about their overall well-being.
Let’s go a step further. Let’s look at the range between contentment and Joy since our faithful internet has given us this range as the potential definition of happiness.
Contentment is a mental or emotional state of satisfaction maybe drawn from being at ease in one’s situation, body and mind. Colloquially speaking, contentment could be a state of having accepted one’s situation and is a milder and more tentative form of happiness.
Joy is an emotion in response to a pleasant observation or a remembrance thereof. The reason for a joyful reaction is usually that some expectation or need has been satisfied. Joy is usually expressed as a smile, a laughter or exclamation of joy.
Joy differs from happiness in that it is an emotion. Happiness, on the other hand, is what we might think of as a feeling, which is more fleeting. Joy may be thought of as “the emotional dimension of the good life, of a life that is both going well and is being lived well.
I feel like I took on the challenge of sharing this with you because of the deep impact that the pursuit of happiness has had on me throughout my life. See based on these definitions one detail cannot be argued. Happiness is derivative, it comes from inside us, it is the landscape we see through our window, my happiness cannot be someone else’s, of course you can share it, you can be the instigator, but that is fleeting, someone’s happiness is as you can see directly related to their own feelings of contentment.
With this said we need only look as far as the end of our own nose to determine the reason for both happiness and conversely unhappiness as well. This of course relates to each of us in a subjective way, as addicts we have ill-defined both the cause and effect of happiness in our own lives sometimes the very thought of it is like a foreign language. Now this is not to say that we just wake up tomorrow, choose to be happy, and all our problems melt away. Knowing that becomes key to our both finding our way to and maintaining true happiness. What we need to understand, and this is important, we are one hundred percent responsible for it!
Heroin, Meth, Weed, Alcohol, self-abuse, pills, ect (fill in your blank)
None of these things have worked in the past, because I am guessing no one is in rehab or recvovery because they were suffering from terminal happiness, we have a disease of the mind, happiness in all of its subjective beauty is the method by which our mind can heal, the sooner you grip that and accept it, the sooner the afore mentioned methods will lose their allure and your life can begin again.
The 12 steps are a guide that will lead you to a foundation of happiness, one true and sad detail of happiness is it cannot co-exist with poor choices, bad feelings, fear, self-loathing, hatred, anger, (fill in the blank). Happiness must be at your core, who you are and who you strive to be. What I am here to share with you, is it can begin again, you’re not lost, you’re not forgotten. You matter and you are worth it.
You have already begun the journey, being in recovery, doing this seemingly impossible task of restarting, it doesn’t matter how many times you have tried, make this the time that matters for YOU and for no one else. Make this the last time you trade your amazing life for getting high.
Look at several things that have led to your Joy in the past.
Here are my thought starters.
My favorite pathway to happiness began shortly after I left Alpine Recovery Lodge and went to my storage unit, there I saw dusty fishing poles, tackle, and gear I had not seen in close to a decade. A thought struck me, instead of going home after work, I would take advantage of time I had to myself, I would utilize the amazing place I live and start fishing again. The first day I did this I felt like a 15 year old again, surrounded by God’s beauty, in the mountains alone, I rediscovered and became somewhat entranced by the feelings and emotions that I left behind so long ago, what was this feeling, yes I can truly say that I was full of Joy, the happiness was beginning.
Another instance occurred right inside this place that was rediscovering the Joy I had for cooking, and I have expanded on that as I have left, taking classes, and preparing things for and with my kids.
Finally one I had when I came into recovery but had to adjust. I loved to draw, Art has been a common expression point for me through my entire life, and I was certain after finding recovery and feeling no inspiration that I may never do it again. I had used my pencil as an outlet for a lot of ugly emotions over the years and could not find that groove. I guess I had less darkness (not really a bad thing), but I missed it, the drawing I mean. Now over the last two years I have started to paint, and this has given back the same feelings of Joy without all the ugliness of my addiction. I love to paint now.
Okay seriously I am not self-promoting, I am actually and amateur at all of these things, but I love them! The reason I shared them, is to help open your eyes and your mind to the idea that everyone is good at something, everyone has a hobby or a skill they love, that they are known for. It is time to relight that flame.
Each time we use a skill or exercise a strength of character we receive a boost in positive emotions. If you are not sure what your personal strengths are I found a great survey.
www.viasurvey.org take the survey. It will tell you your 20+ strengths, more than a lifetime of Joy can be found in pursuing the things you love and are good at.
The more you use your personnel strengths the more positive you will feel.
“The is no path to happiness, happiness is the path”
“Happiness does not depend on what you have, or who you are, it solely relies on what you think”
Buddah
You matter