Happiness
“We come to know happiness, joy, and freedom.”
Basic Text, p. 88
If someone stopped you on the street today and asked if you were happy, what
would you say? “Well, gee, let’s see… I have a place to live, food in the refrigerator,
a job, my car is running… Well, yes, I guess I am happy,” you might respond. These
are outward examples of things that many of us have traditionally associated with
happiness. We often forget, however, that happiness is a choice; no one can make
us happy.
Happiness is what we find in our involvement with Narcotics Anonymous. The
happiness we derive from a life focused on service to the addict who still suffers is
great indeed. When we place service to others ahead of our own desires, we find that
we take the focus off ourselves. As a result, we live a more contented, harmonious
life. In being of service to others, we find our own needs more than fulfilled.
Happiness. What is it, really? We can think of happiness as contentment and
satisfaction. Both of these states of mind seem to come to us when we least strive
for them. As we live just for today, carrying the message to the addict who still
suffers, we find contentment, happiness, and a deeply meaningful life.
Just for today: I am going to be happy. I will find my happiness by being of service
to others.