Choose Joy

Viktor E. Frankl M.D., Ph.D. was a neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. He wrote several books during his lifetime, but after looking at his life, I came away with one striking discovery: happiness is a decision made, not a circumstance experienced.

Look at one instance in your day and consider for a moment how much control you have over your circumstances. Driving to work, as one example, you will likely pass hundreds, if not thousands, of other drivers. Odds are, several of them will have drunk, smoked or injected an intoxicant before getting in their cars that day. Many of them haven’t slept in 20 or more hours. Those odds increase dramatically if it’s the weekend.

Let’s say you have a fantastic day and none of these other drivers kill you. Nonetheless, your car breaks down. As it turns out, what you thought was a small oil leak was actually huge and you just blew your engine. You manage to convince the tow truck drivers to take you to a repair shop on the other side of town, closer to where you live. After dropping off your car, you step outside to call a friend to pick you up and they lock the doors behind you because it’s closing time. You look at your phone and it’s dead. You look back at the shop and everyone’s left. You’re six miles from home.

Honestly, it wasn’t a bad walk. That happened to me a couple of years ago. In fact, despite wearing my usual cowboy boots, I found myself enjoying the walk. My sister happened to see me when she was driving to pick up her husband; so, I only made it a few miles before getting a ride. Not too bad.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.” -Viktor E. Frankl

Most things in life we have no control over. We have little choice over whom we see throughout the day and no choice over what they say or do. No one person, thing or circumstance can give us happiness. Neither can they take happiness away from us.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” -Viktor E. Frankl

Many of us spend a large portion of our lives seeking out that one thing or person that will give us happiness. Something that will "complete us." The only hole that we have inside of us is a Spiritual one. But, even with that filled, happiness comes only from our own attitude. We cannot always choose what our eyes see. Our outlook, though, is where we choose to focus.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” -Viktor E. Frankl

Whatever situation we face, we have a choice between two realities. One reality that sees everything that is and could possibly be wrong and one that sees everything that is and could possibly be right. If you choose to look at what's wrong, or maybe just a piece of what's right, you are cheating yourself out of happiness.

How do we choose joy? Well, thank God the Bible is nothing if not practical.

1. Pray
God is not dead, nor is He deaf! How many times have you asked God for an answer, and then not listened for the answer? Freedom from anxiety comes from continued communication with an omniscient God. (1 Thes. 16:18, Phil. 6:6)

2. Give thanks
Christ gave His life for our lives. How often do we say we want joy, but fail to look for it? Giving thanks in every circumstance is an integral part of discovering the joy therein. Especially knowing that our hope lies in Christ. (1 Thes. 16:18, Ps. 28:7, Phil. 4:6, Rom. 12:12)

3. Be patient
God has been infinitely patient with us. Look at how long it took you to get to where you are today from where you were three years ago. Time is God’s creation. Trust Him to use it to our advantage. (Rom. 12:12)

4. Trust God
God has fulfilled every promise and every prophecy up until today. He is unchanging. Believe in His promises and, by His Spirit, our hope will abound. (Ps. 28:7, Rom. 15:13)

5. Seek God’s presence
God is here. Learn to rest in Him. He strengthens and protects us when we allow Him to. When our mind is fixed on him, it becomes fixed in peace. (Ps 16:11, Ps. 28:7, Phil. 4:7, Isa. 26:3, Rom. 15:13)

6. Give everything to God
God cares about you. Everyone should do what he or she can. When you can change something, change it. But when you cannot, give it up. Give it up to God and let Him take care of it. (1 Pet. 5:7, 1 Thes. 16:18, Ps. 28:7, Phil. 4:6)

Sometimes praying is the only thing you can do. It’s always the best thing you can do.

All things considered, my life incredibly blessed. That doesn’t mean there aren’t times when I choose to focus on the negative. But knowing that happiness is one choice away, is an incredibly liberating feeling. Choose joy.

Discussion points:

What things in your life are the hardest to find joy in? What difference is there in the people who do find joy in those things? What choices are they making that you could?

I often sing and dance while at work, not because work is so incredible that I just can’t keep it in, but because I enjoy singing and dancing and bringing those things into work makes it more enjoyable. What things that bring you joy can you bring to the things that don’t?

Viktor Frankl’s family died in the ovens of he holocaust. He chose joy in the midst of unimaginable suffering. What is our excuse when we choose complaining, strife and sadness?