False promises should never be
the forte of a person who values the truth; as I do. So I have a far bit to
follow through with in this article if I’m going to come close to achieving
your satisfaction regarding the promise.
Central to the effectual delivery of this promise, first and foremost,
is a vibrant relationship with God; the commitment to grow – as the fundamental
premise for life – right through the lifespan, including bending into the many
and various shapes of humility to make the choices required.
But the actual secret – that one solitary thing we need to do – to have
the happiest of lives is we need to embrace hard work. Not
just manual labour, though that helps. Not just waking early and finishing the
day strong – interspersed with sensible recovery breaks. Not just working hard
to get ahead. Not just being goal-focused. And not just slowing down enough to
learn through it all.
This is centrally about the virtue of diligence. (Please don’t switch
off yet. You’ve come this far; stay in this.)
The number one problem in most our lives is fear. The preparedness for
hard work amends fear. If we have no fear for the work ahead of us – especially
that work that has been chosen for us (that which we wouldn’t have chosen
ourselves) – we have everything needed to experience the happiest of lives.
The reason people are unhappy is they allow fear to control them,
whether they are conscious of the fear or not. Fear from procrastinating when
it would be easier to knuckle down. Fear from envying what someone else has
when it would be wiser to do the deep soul work of knowing the blessing it is
to simply be us. Fear from what we are missing out on because of the
responsibilities we need to attend to, instead of grasping the blessedness in
being able to be relied upon. Fear from the grief we have been plunged into
rather than holding fast to faith that will see us through into relative
prosperity if we don’t give up. Fear from being appalled by how we look in the
mirror when the not-so-easy sacrifice of being self-disciplined with our diet
and exercise is just what we need. Fear from unmet comfort needs – for
instance, when we comfort-eat – can be stayed in simply doing a little
exercise.
The very thought of hard work produces fear. We can overcome this fear
if we see the value in hard work. And when we work hard the results come. That
produces happiness, which is far superior to settling for fear because we are
not prepared to commit.
Thoughts of hard work produce fear.
But doing the hard work overcomes the fear.
Hard work produces positive outcomes.
Positive outcomes create happiness.
The Value to You and Others for Your Investment of Hard Work
Hard work in the holistic sense – which could be physical, mental,
emotional or spiritual – or, in fact, a combination of these – is motivated by
trust. Nobody works hard without proper reason, right?
If we have sufficient trust to work now in the hope of an unseen reward
later on, down the track, and we work diligently enough with the right
attitude, our work will increase in divine value. More people than just us will
be blessed as a result.
When we experience blessing, especially as we observe that others have
also been blessed because of our work, the result is the kind of joy we can
only call happiness.
***
When we are prepared to trust God and do the work that our lives
require, in order for our lives to work, we become blessed. Others, too, are
blessed. And upon blessing is the state of joy we call happiness.
Work hard, trusting God for the blessing to come, and you will have the
happiest of lives.
© 2014 S. J. Wickham.
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