Former New Hampshire State Senator Jim Rubens recently wrote a book entitled, OverSuccess: Healing the American Obsession with Wealth, Fame, Power, and Perfection. In this book he lays out his “science-based recipe for happiness.” In other words he tells us how we can be happy. Allow me to quote from an interview he gave, adding numbers to his list for the sake of clarity.
“Science has shown a number of things will improve our feelings of well being:
1- Have control over the major elements of your life;
2- select major goals for which you are 50 percent likely to succeed given your skills, intelligence, resources and social network, rather than goals that are either too easy or too difficult;
3- focus on the process of reaching goals, not just achievement;
4- do purposeful, meaningful work and activity in which you can grow;
5- be of service to something larger than self;
6- find faith, spirituality or religion;
7- be married, since 40 percent of married people say they are very happy compared with 24 percent of those unmarried;
8- live a rich social life with multiple strong friendships;
9- get sufficient sleep and aerobic exercise;
10- act happy to be happy, since there is evidence to support ‘behavior induction,’ the purposeful replacement of negative emotions, bodily motions, facial expressions and vocalizations with positive ones.
It isn’t rocket science, but many of us have ignored common sense to feed our addiction to OverSuccess.”
(quoted in an interview here, http://www.mymidwestmagazine.com/2009/09/01/qa-jim-rubens-on/)
Science tells us, according to Ruben, that to find happiness these 10 things must be present.
In recent weeks I have been talking about the kingdom of God, and how Christ calls us to participate in building His Kingdom. What struck me as I read Rubens list, is that Kingdom involvement clearly makes many of these things happen. Allow me to go through the list.
1- Have control over the major elements of your life:
For sure following Christ does not give us control over our life. Having control over our lives is really just an illusion. But what following Christ does is much better. It reminds us that God is in control, and teaches us to submit to and enjoy his control.
2- select major goals for which you are 50 percent likely to succeed given your skills, intelligence, resources and social network, rather than goals that are either too easy or too difficult;
With the help of the Spirit of God we are able to select meaningful goals that we ourselves are unable to do, but that we can achieve with the favor and blessing of God
3- focus on the process of reaching goals, not just achievement;
The primary beneficiary of your kingdom building will be you, for in the process of your kingdom building activity God will change you.
4- do purposeful, meaningful work and activity in which you can grow;
I can think of nothing more purposeful and meaningful than participating with God i\n what He is doing.
5- be of service to something larger than self;
Like to the kingdom of God
6- find faith, spirituality or religion;
Yes, building the kingdom helps you find faith!
7- be married, since 40 percent of married people say they are very happy compared with 24 percent of those unmarried;
In kingdom building you may find a mate with a similar heart, or you may simply get prepared to be a better mate.
8- live a rich social life with multiple strong friendships;
Friends who are building the kingdom together are the best of friends.
9- get sufficient sleep and aerobic exercise;
Not sure what to say about this one
10- act happy to be happy, since there is evidence to support ‘behavior induction,’ the purposeful replacement of negative emotions, bodily motions, facial expressions and vocalizations with positive ones.
“Rejoice in the Lord always”?
Ruben says that these 10 things will make us happy. Cleary 7-8 of them will come to pass if we participate meaningfully in kingdom building. Jesus said in John 15: 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
If we want complete joy and real happiness we will obey Jesus, or participate in Kingdom building. Now Rubens is confirming those words!
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