Would I be better off dead? For real? Are you contemplating this?
You can’t do any good if you’re dead. Get up and go do something good.
Anything!!!!
Purse happiness!!!
Ancient philosophers understood that happiness was obtained by being the most virtuous person they could possibly be. In other words, they wanted every thought, every word, and every action to be the best possible response to their current circumstances.
People who take their lives are not happy. Many who have done so have had all the means possible to obtain whatever they wanted. That is proof that happiness is not obtaining everything we think we need or want and throwing money at our problems to reduce any negative feelings. Many people have determined through personal experience that happiness is not pleasure seeking. Happiness is not obtained by having fun times and decreasing problems.
The world’s philosophy constantly talks about our rights: the right to life and the right of liberty (freedom) but does the world understand the pursuit of happiness as referenced in the Declaration of Independence? Watch a Super Bowl commercial. What are they selling? The pursuit of happiness was a known idea at the time of the founding of America and it referred to ancient philosophy. It is not what they are selling today.
The pursuit of happiness was taught and understood by ancient philosophers as having the ability to pursue a virtuous life obtained by individuals making their own choices.
The pursuit of happiness can be summarized as striving after 12 virtues to produce the best possible good. Doing good.
- Wisdom / Prudence - the opposite of foolishness - doing the right thing at the right time. Do we not feel good when we acquire knowledge and act on that knowledge for the good of others?
- Fortitude / Strength - having the ability to tolerate something and be patient or having the ability to act and bring about change. Do we not feel good when we can stand in a river unshaken or when we move something heavy for the good of others?
- Responsibility - taking care of what we have been given. Do we not feel good when we do what we know we need to do?
- Humility - living, dressing, and conducting oneself with a healthy self-worth. Do we not feel good when we rightly recognize that an accomplishment would not have happened if not for others or God?
- Justice / Peace Loving - making sure right and wrong are upheld by all, yielding to others. Do we not feel good when social rules are applied to the benefit of all.
- Courage - the opposite of being a coward. Do we not feel good when we correctly stand against adversity even when fearful thoughts tell us not to take action?
- Charity / Loving Kindness – Helping others. Do we not feel good when we are able to help those in need?
- Temperance - having self-restraint to stay between overindulgence and abstinence. Do we not feel good when we enjoy something in the right amount?
- Integrity / Truthfulness - being honest above all but knowing when to share or not to share truth. Do we not feel good when do what we say we are going to do, and we are open and honest about our actions.
- Gratitude - being thankful. Do we not feel good when we have a deep sense of gratefulness?
- Lighthearted / Uplifting - not being a bore nor being a clown, being a peacemaker. Do we not feel good when we can laugh at life, ourselves, and others and put a smile on our face or the face of someone else at the right moment?
- Faith - having a spiritual perspective and acknowledging a greater being than ourselves. This usually involves believing in a creator that is involved with the creation (us). Do we not feel good when we look beyond humanity for answers?
Are not all virtues beneficial to others?
Are not all virtues good?
If God is good, are not all virtues godly?
Pursuing after virtues is Pursuing after God.
If you’re contemplating giving up your life, do this first: give up your spirit. Make every thought, every word, and every action the best possible choice based on virtuous living. Become truly poor in spirit and be led by a higher spirit.
Virtuous living is not to be an isolated individual goal to be achieved by ourselves, but to be experienced as a group of people striving to be the best possible people we can be.
Virtuous living is not obtained in the absence of troubles and trials but developed through them.
Virtuous living is built in the valleys of life.
Therefore, we can consider it an opportunity for joy when troubles come because we know good can come out of trouble.
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
There is no blessing in jealousy or selfish ambition.
Do we want what will give us pleasure? Or do we want a deep sense of peace, joy, and love in our soul.
Are you a friend of the world or a friend of God?
At the end of the day can I say, “I did good”
Can I say, “Given the circumstances, I chose the best possible path”
We have a family joke: when things do not turn out like I wanted, I say, “Write on my tombstone: he tried”
Don’t give up - Give in
Get up and try again.
Start with a simple act of kindness.