Masked Feelings

Masked Feelings by Tyran Schouten

Sometimes I feel like there is this unrealistic standard saying that I have to be happy. Why is happiness so expected? Why is it so desired? And why is it so needed that I am willing to fake it and put on a mask of happiness, so that the world around me is fooled into thinking that I am feeling something I am not?

One By One

"When upon lifes billows you are tempest tossed; When you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will suprise you what the Lord has done." I believe that everything we are, and everything we have is from God. Last summer I read an article from one of the church leaders of the Mormon faith, one of the twelve apostles by the name of Elder J...effery R. Holland. The article was called, "Lord, I Believe." In it he said, and I am paraphrasing here, "instead of focusing on what you dont' have, focus on what you do have." Around the time I read the article I was going through one of the hardest times in my life. It was trying in every sense of the word. I felt tempest tossed and I felt discouraged. Many times I felt all was lost and that I was very much upon lifes billows. I began thinking why is it this way?? Why can't it be this other way?? I dont' have this, this, OR that!! When I landed on this last inward exclamation, the quote from the article, felt as if it rang through my mind silencing my rantful thinking. "Rather than focus on what you don't have, think about what you do have." I sat quietly for a minute and began to think of things that I DID have. It started very basic and rather broad. It was also difficult at first. "I have a family..." "I have a roof over my head and food in the cupboard..." "I have my health." My whole attitude proceeded to change, and the list grew longer and longer. The next day I came agross the hymn I quoted at the first of this post, and realized that it was the formula that refreshed and awakened me from a spiral of miserable events and thoughts. In truth I felt the song applied so perfectly into my life that I knew that the lesson held within its verses was correct and the obvious outcome of putting into practice the lesson proves it worth and accuracy. My cirumstances hadn't changed. I still was faced with the raging storm, billows and all, but I went from misery to peace; tumult to contentment; lonliness to happiness; and all it took was counting out what I did have, my blessings, ONE BY ONE.

20 Things We Should Say More Often

What can I say this kid is so wise in the ways of happiness!  If you want to increase your happiness in 20 simple ways then watch this video!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10152166514207929

It's also a perfect way to brighten your day by giving you a couple of laughs and a smile!  It'll serve as a kick start to today's journey of happiness.

Opposition in All Things Part 3

The last and most important equation, and sometimes the most difficult to understand, our afflictions.  It seems that they are not few or infrequent for any member of the human family.  But it is important to know that our afflictions and trials are not a punishment from an angry or unjust God but part of the plan of a loving God, our Heavenly Father.  He knew--and we knew too, that life would be hard and that we would be faced with trials and sorrow that would cause anguish to our souls.  The light in our dark times is our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the opposition to darkness, pain, and affliction.  One of our hymns describes this opposition:

Does the Journey Seem Long?

"Does the journey seem long,

The path rugged and steep?

Are there briars and thorns on the way?

Do sharp stones cut your feet

As you struggle to rise

To the heights thru the heat of the day?

Is your heart faint and sad,

Your soul weary within,

As you toil 'neath your burden of care?

Does the load heavy seem

You are forced now to lift?

Is there no one your burden to share?

Let your heart be not faint

Now the journey's begun;

There is One who still beckons to you.

So look upward in joy

And take hold of his hand;

He will lead you to heights that are new—

A land holy and pure,

Where all trouble doth end,

And your life shall be free from all sin,

Where no tears shall be shed,

For no sorrows remain.

Take his hand and with him enter in."

I have found relief from these pains through Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.  They have been replaced by love, peace and of course, happiness.  I still face difficult and challenging times.  Sometimes I get my priorities mixed up or forget what is truly important, but He is always there to light my way back to the path of happiness--the path that will eventually lead all who walk it "home to that heaven where Father is waiting for me."  The words of Jesus Christ himself clearly distinguish the equation of opposition when facing the afflictions of this life, "These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33.  We all face different circumstances, if you want to be happy and you are not it's time to try something new!  Maybe, it's time to change!  We can change!  We can have fresh starts to be happy!  So what do you change in your life?  Identify what you are doing to be happy and see if it is working, if it is not, try the opposite!

A man acquainted with grief and sorrow turned to the Savior and found the light in the dark afflictions in his life.  Chris Williams' wife, daughter, and son were killed by a drunk teenage driver.  An uplifting and inspirational example to me of how to find peace and happiness in the pit of devastation.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911104787001

Opposition in All Things Part 2

I want to look at the causes of unhappiness and their opposites. For starters, pride, the first defined word in this series of posts. If we are prideful, meaning, we do not give freely to others or we treat others below the value we hold ourselves, and the effect of this behavior/attitude is unhappiness, then we can gather, scientifically speaking and using the "opposition equation," that the opposite behavior and attitude will result in the opposite cause. If we rid ourselves of pride, live and act in humility, in kindness to others, then we will obtain happiness where unhappiness was once equated.

A few more of my "equations." Money does not equal happiness. Beauty does not equal happiness. Having either money or beauty isn't wrong or automatically create within a person unhappiness. It is the pursuit and love/lust of them that can spiral us into misery and/or loneliness. I've heard of the wealthiest people being some of the most unhappy.

Here is a lesson I learned from the Disney and Pixar move, "UP." Mr. Fredrickson is a very unhappy and lonely widower. He and his wife always dreamed of going to a place in South America called Paradise Falls, but they never had the chance before she died. Eventually he is able to wrangle up his house with a few hundred balloons and begins a grand journey to float his house to their dream destination.

Along the way Russell, a young and energetic boyscout neighbor, is roped into the adventure along with a few other colorful characters. At the climax of the story, Mr. Fredrickson has made it to Paradise Falls but it has cost him the friendship of his companions because he has selfishly decided not to go to their rescue.  He has acheived his life goal so what should he care of the others? 

As he sits there next to his wife's empty chair, and after finding her last note to him, he realizes that his house and his dream is not what matters; what truly matters is the family he has gained through this journey and who he has the power to help. In this pivotal moment Mr. Fredrickson proceeds to throw out all of the material aspects of the life of he and his wife so that the house can again lift off and go to the rescue.

The lesson that I learn is one of deep value, if what you care about is the possessions of this life, no matter how seemingly nostalgic or important, you will wind up alone in a big empty house. He had learned in that moment of epiphany that what was important were others; not the objects gathered in life but life itself and the life well lived that is full of love.  He had realized where he needed to be and the result was in face a happy ending.

Opposition in All Things Part 1

Some causes of unhappiness:

Pride: Conceit, haughty behavior, ostentatious display. Justifying the ability of only oneself to do or live.
Vanity & Riches: Caring more of worldly items and behaviors than that of true value. ex) The latest iphone, a new car, looking like Kim Kardashian. These things might bring temporary enjoyment or fleeting purpose but it fails to create lasting joy.
Worshipping idols: Setting upon a pedestal that which is of worldly worth until our whole thought, time, and self is devoted to the item, sports team, or person, to name a few examples.
Unbelief: Doubt, uncertainty, discontentment, or unsurety. A negative view of the past, present, or especially the future. Disbelieving that there is more or better that can be found.
Affliction: Pain, distress, torment, torture, hard times, oppression, suffering, persecution, ordeal, tribulation, tyranny, hatred.
Trials: Testing of quality, value. Putting to proof through effort or attempt. Causes of trial and affliction include natural law, the choices of ourselves or others. Every action has a reaction--a consequence; cause and effect.

How can you be happy when there is so much out there causing the opposite?...Opposite...a term also worth an exploration of meaning. What if there was a law, a universal law, as real as gravity that stated, "there must be opposition in all things."

Hot cold. Night Day.

           Pleasure Pain. Dark Light.  Sickness Health.

                  Inside outside. Good evil. Love hate.

  Unhappiness happiness. 

Could we understand, enjoy, or appreciate happiness if we did not know what it was to feel unhappy?  Understanding the law of opposition doesn't take away our unhappiness but it can help us identify why we may be unhappy. This can also teach us where true happiness abides. It grants us peace because it deepens our knowledge and understanding of the principles that govern the universe. For me, it helps me understand God and how central He is to my life, understanding, and happiness.

This video is an example of a woman who has faced a mountain of adversity.  This is her testimony.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911161811001