Wow. Take a minute and read that through again!
This quote stopped me in my tracks today.
We all crave that sense of fulfillment. We all have some goal we are trying to obtain in life-whether it be personal, career based, spiritual…something we are striving for and feel our “life will be complete” and we will have “true happiness” WHEN…..”this” happens.
What is it for you?
I remember back in college, constantly having this thought in my mind. Day after day hoping and grasping for more. I told myself:
WHEN I got married…I’d be happy.
Once I got married, it became…
WHEN I had kids…I’d be happy.
Now, I find myself married AND I have kids and I’m saying, WHEN we get through our last deployment and my hubby retires from the Navy…THEN things will be better because we will finally be together. See how I threw that justification in there? “because we will be together?” Somehow, that makes it seem better…right???
You know the problem with living a life full of “when’s?”
There will always be another “when.” Sadly, they never run out.
So, I ask myself, “is Joyce right?”
Can it really be as simple as just finding out WHO we are and being true to that? Is something as basic as that the real key to happiness?
Hmmmm…
It seems like one of those “too obvious to be true” type of answers. I’m pondering this thought as I write and it really DOES make sense.
We choose our own happiness. We can’t rely on other people or outward situations to determine our life. It’s too unpredictable and too temporary. We need something dependable…OURSELF.
Since I’ve started blogging earlier this year, I have really been striving to “find myself” and “who I am” as I progress through the timeline of my aging life. You can find several posts I’ve written about that. Here is one to get you started: Who Am I… Meditating on My Life Outside of Motherhood.
As I read through a few of them…I find one concept in particular to be consistent.
BE MYSELF!
Physically: I’ve talked about loving my body as it changes from before having a baby, to having babies, to being a 35-year-old mom…and EMBRACING it ALL! Shhhh! A Secret Just for Moms
Spiritually: I’ve talked about finding strength and confidence through Christ to move past my previous regrets and doubts about myself. Free to Be Me.
Emotionally: I got really personal when I wrote about finding who I am on the inside and beyond the physical me. Beyond the Surface: Looking Deeply into Myself
Can you believe I didn’t even realize until now, that so many of the thoughts I express in my blog have to do with finding happiness within ourselves?
WOW! No wonder Joyce’s quote stung me so hard when I stumbled upon it in her devotional book this morning! I’ve said before how I believe God speaks to us and when He says the same thing more than once, it’s really time to listen! Well, I feel the lightbulb turning on in my head right now! ha God has been trying to tell me to accept myself and to embrace the REAL me. THIS is how to find fulfillment!
Once we commit to a life where we are just ourself and not striving to impress others or be someone they want us to be, we can focus on just enjoying life and the people around us. We can actually LIVE freely with no chains holding us back from true happiness! –Adventures of a Busy Mom
As a testimony to this, I was just telling my family the other day how I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so! I’m being ME and happiness has been the result!
What are your thoughts?
If you have read any of the posts I mentioned earlier (and I highly encourage you to do so), which one spoke the most to you? Why do you think that is?
Do you feel like you are struggling with finding your inner happiness? What have you done to improve this? Has it worked?
Is there an area you would like for me to spend more time talking about? I’d love to hear from you and try to tailor my next post to fit your needs!
With Aloha,
Lacy
Featured Blog Posts:
A Simple Compliment Goes A Long Way
Finding Joy in the Simple Things
Motherhood: My Best Commitment
Adventures of a Busy Mom 
Wonderful! Happiness and acceptance of who we are is a choice. That is a wonderful thing in life. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true and it’s sad how it is something we as people tend to find so difficult to do until a later age. It’s so simple yet hard to accept as true and implement. Thanks for reading and commenting!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. Have a wonderful day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
very nice, thanks for making me think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and commenting. I’m glad it has made you think and I hope it’s something you can find for yourself:)
LikeLike
I love Joyce Meyer! I am currently reading her book Power Thoughts. I believe shifting our thinking can have a big impact on our happiness too. It is amazing how much impact our thought life can have on us. It is definitely an area the enemy works to attack me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!!!! Our thoughts are powerful! That can relate to this post as well…change our thought about ourself and accept who we are! Don’t let the enemy make us think false things about ourselves. We are all worthy of happiness no matter what life has dealt us! It is a choice we make based on our thoughts & confidence in who we are 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is something I am striving to do better at. As someone who suffers from the disease to please it is easy to look for approval from others, when really it is up to me to find the joy in each day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true. I’ve always been a people pleaser too. Accepting who I am and being someone I’m proud of has made a big difference. It gives me confidence and I don’t feel the need to please others as much because I’m pleasing myself and God. Thanks for reading and commenting!!!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Brainy Versatility.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much! I’m glad you enjoyed it enough to share!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found your blog via a post on Skylarity and I decided to check out your feed. I love this post and just followed. I enjoy hiking too and look forward to reading more of your posts about fulfillment and fitness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you found me! I hope I can be an inspiration to you! Welcome!!!!
LikeLike
Thank for sharing such personal thoughts and emotions with all of us. Reading your post made me realize that life is hard, but that is the beauty of it, that it is as complex as we want yo make it. Truly, truly, we have control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life can be hard, that’s for sure. Even the storms. But, looking back at them and seeing how we’ve grown is such a beautiful thing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lacy, I adore you!! I am finding my current newsfeed of blogs so dry and not much depth, or writing comprehension. Then, I read a post from you and my mind awakens to a sense of purpose! You bring so many deep thoughts into your writing and I adore you for it!! Thank you for being you!
I have to get to work reading the other posts you mentioned now so I can think on all of the questions and thoughts you have. I should write them down so I can blog about them as well. Thank you for this. You are an awesome blessing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awe, this makes me smile from the inside out!!!!! Thank you for that and for your kind words.
It can be scary opening up and being vulnerable when I share so much of me in my posts. I never know how people will respond or react to them. I enjoy hearing your feedback. It means so much to me and it gives me a push to keep on.
Thanks again!
LikeLike
Good quote from the amazing Joyce Meyer – such an encouraging Christian woman!
You have fleshed out the quote very well Lacy! I will forward this to my daughters and daughters in law.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. She is an amazing role model! Thank you for passing this on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree! We all really do crave for a sense of fulfillment! Being a full time, working mom makes me very tired but just like you, I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. Thanks for making me realize that through this post. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad it helped shed that light for you. I love to hear when people have found their ultimate happiness. It’s such a good place when you reach that! I’m so very happy for you!!!! Thank you for reading & for this great comment. It started off my morning with a smile 😁
LikeLike