Money cannot buy happiness. “Keeping up with the Joneses” has been a way a life for Americans since the end of WWII. Although Roosevelt’s campaign of “two chickens in every pot and two cars in every garage” was a way to boost Americans into security, it has become a rat race to get rich quick. Instead of looking for ways to build our character and relationships, we use people as stepping stones to get what we think we want: financial gain!
Americans have way too much! Parents have bent over backwards to make sure their children “will not have to go through what I went through when I was growing up.” This has caused young adults to be insecure about everything in their lives. Many 15-29 year olds experience lots of anxiety and depression. We have not done our children any favors by giving them every advantage.
Words like “stress” and “worry” are overused because we have led ourselves to believe that we are. Constant comparisons of ourselves with others almost always leads to a negative outlook on life. There will always be someone who looks better, has more money, has a better job, has life more in control, etc. than me. I cannot compete with those individuals. However, on the flip side, there will always be someone who looks worse, has less money, has a lesser job, does not have their life in control, etc., than me. It is all about perspective.
Living positively is a decision and a life skill. Instead of constant comparisons, learning to accept who we are, where we are, and what we are contributing to life builds a positive outlook. Long ago, I decided that “happiness was a choice.” Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (ESV).
I choose life. I choose to be happy. I choose to make every day a good one. I choose to make others smile when they see me. It is my choice!