Good News

ENCOURAGEMENT 34 JULY 2018 Good News • South Florida Edition :H DUH D PRYHPHQW RI SURIHVVLRQDOV LQ WKH KHDOWKFDUH LQGXVWU\ DQG LWV VXSSRUWHUV ZKR KDYH DOLJQHG RXUVHOYHV ZLWK WKRVH QHHGLQJ UHVRXUFHV LQ RXU FRPPXQLW\ :H XWLOL]H WKH NQRZOHGJH H[SHULHQFH DQG H[SHUWLVH RI RQH DQRWKHU DQG DUH DYDLODEOH WR RXU FRPPXQLW\ LQ WKHLU WLPH RI QHHG 0RQWKO\ 'LVFXVVLRQV DUH KHOG RQ WKH WK 7KXUVGD\ RI HDFK PRQWK &KHFN VQDOD RUJ IRU FXUUHQW LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG RWKHU DUHD HYHQWV 6XSSRUWLQJ <RX 6XSSRUWLQJ 7KHP Happiness is on the rise – or at least the research and books available on hap- piness has risen. Bookstore shelves are filled with books to teach us how to be happy, we tap our feet to songs about being happy, and we listen to television shows on the latest tips for finding happiness. The truth is, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress levels, anxiety and depression are on the rise. Americans are on the hunt for happiness. Discovering Your Optimum ‘Happiness Index’ by Errol and Marjorie Gibbs, cre- ators of the Optimum Happiness Index (OHI) is a new book on happiness. The au- thors view Optimum Happiness “as a state of happiness that is higher than the commonly held notion of people’s happiness. “The goal of the corresponding OHI”, says Gibbs, “is to provide a quantifiable measure for the individual to assess his or her happiness, and then take action (self-improvement), to help stem the rising tide of unhappiness in his or her life.” Individuals can take a survey consisting of 100 questions to get their Happiness Index. A summary report provides feedback on areas that might have a negative effect on the individual’s happiness, and Self-Im- provement (SI) templates offer suggestions for areas for self-improvement. Practical tips to achieve happiness Gibbs and Gibbs offer five practical tips to increase happiness. These include: 1. Seek spirituality as the first obligation of human survival and love (agapé) as the highest duty of humanity, and strive to understand the complex and multi-layered nature of happiness. 2. Respect fellow beings, regardless of race, creed, color and culture, and practice loyalty, mutual trust, respect, humility and servanthood. 3. Cultivate a personable disposition and character to enable communica- tions, and practice fairness, justice, mercy, forgiveness and transparency in matters of leadership. 4. Guard against the impulse of greed and extravagance, conduct busi- ness with honesty, competence, and integrity, and strive for high integrity re- lationships in personal and business matters. 5. Seek higher education as a career enabler, as well as punctuality, performance and produc- tivity for career advancement. Practice financial prudence, and be charitable to others who may be less fortunate than we are. Qualities of a strong marriage In addition to the five aforementioned tips, the authors say, “nothing surpasses the power of love to transform human relationships and foster hap- piness. Accordingly, they offer five qualities of a strong marriage rooted in biblical wisdom. The five qualities include: 1. Companionship (Mark 10:8) 2. Completeness (Genesis 2:23–24 3. Enjoyment (1 Corinthians 7:5) 4. Procreation (Psalm 127:3) 5. Protection (Ephesians 5:25–28) Additionally, Gibbs and Gibbs suggest ten daily activities and behaviors that seem to support a healthy marriage and promote happiness. These actions are: 1. Exercise patience and seek sexual counseling. 2. Be grateful for your husband or wife, and forsake others. 3. Read books together and share worldviews. 4. Cultivate loyalty in marriage, live, love and share dreams. 5. Foster co-partnership, co-ownership, as co-equals. 6. Foster a peaceful home, peaceful living and a shared vision. 7. Work on the family budget together and practice financial prudence. 8. Decorate the home with plants and happy colors. 9. Practice healthy eating — together and strive for work-life balance. 10. Travel to faraway places together and laugh-out-loud (LOL) ― regularly. Optimal Happiness in Life and Marriage Terry Morrow Nelson Good News