Choosing Happiness

“I wish that I had let myself be happier” is one of the regrets reported by Bonnie Ware in serving patients near the end of their lives. She goes on to say that “Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice.”

Here is my question. Is this true from a Christian perspective? Can we choose happiness? I have been thinking about this, and here are some scriptures that have come to mind.

“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices.” Psalm 16: 7-8

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” Psalm 55:22

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

“In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.” 2 Corinthians 7:4

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Phil 4:4

These scriptures come in the form of commands and mechanisms to accomplish gladness or rejoicing by keeping the Lord before us and casting our burdens on him even during affliction

Comments

Perspectives on Social Interaction, Community, and Friendships

Scientific research has concluded that ongoing, close relationships are cognitively and emotionally critical, especially as we age. Beyond science, Christian theologians, pastors, and authors have recognized the requirement of relationships for centuries. I have sought helpful perspectives from various sources to highlight the vital nature of relationships and community. Scientific Research: · Sanjay Gupta: Writes in “Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age,” “It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community, are happier, they’re physically healthier, and they live longer than people who are less well connected.” · Robert Waldinger : In “The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness,” describes his research and says, “Loneliness is associated with being more sensitive to pain, suppression of the immune system, diminished brain ...

Book Review: How to Retire

Christine Benz’s How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement is a thought-provoking and practical guide to navigating one of life’s biggest transitions. Drawing on her expertise as Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, Benz compiles insights from 20 retirement thought leaders, each contributing a single lesson on what makes retirement fulfilling and financially secure. While the perspectives sometimes differ, the book offers a wealth of guidance for those planning their retirement or already living it. In this post, I’ll share some key lessons that stood out. One recurring theme from Benz’s interviews is the challenge of finding purpose after leaving the workforce. Retirement often brings a sudden shift in daily structure and a sense of identity. As one expert explains, “Serotonin gets released by our body as a way of rewarding us for maintaining a higher social status, and we lose that when we leave the workforce. In fact, it’s as if we had...

Additional Considerations on Relocating in Retirement

The obvious: Pray/seek God's guidance. While some Scripture passages speak well of old age, there is no retirement plan like one reads about in Kiplingers or Money magazine. King David died in a palace (but with a bit of strife within his family). Moses died somewhere in Moab (not the Promised Land). Mary (mother of Jesus) was given to the care of the disciple Jesus loved (probably John). The Apostle John may have died in Patmos (maybe in a cave). Paul and Peter did not have a Kiplingers' retirement. Enoch's last days sound a bit more appealing. If you like hot rods or roller coasters - Elijah. I suspect that, back in Biblical times, there were more conventional ways for people to live their senior years, and for most of us, our retirements will be reasonably traditional within our times. But, with God, there's an element of faith. More secular thoughts: - If possible, ...

Retirement Insights

Search This Blog