Freedom through happiness – Happiness through freedom

Freedom Through Happiness - Happiness Through Freedom Freedom through happiness - happiness through freedom had eluded me because I had lacked purpose, meaning, and peace. Today I resolved to leave the contemporary attempt to solve psychological problems, through exploration of the past, behind. I write this because I have observed something... When I read, think, experience something which reminds me of my past, I experience bondage and sorrow. On the contrary, when I focus on the present by reading, studying, reciting, meditating (pondering) scripture, I experience purpose, meaning, and peace. Solution: Philippians 3:12-14 - "(12) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ." Holy Bible NKJV I elucidate what had already been authoritatively laid out millennia ago... Just forget it; leave it behind. Notice that I have not being left to my own thinking, belief, self. Another powerful scripture which further 2 supports leaving my past self struggles behind is 2 Corinthians 5:17- "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Holy Bible NKJV I had not been armed with this powerful scripture when I was in Atascadero State Hospital for suicidal ideation treatment; as a result, I could not address a fellow prisoner's objection to my statement that Philippians 3:12-14 meant to leave the past behind and stop digging it up. At the time I did have 2 Corinthians 5:17 in my arsenal of memorized scriptures. Now I know that if I am in Christ, I am new (fresh), the old is no longer, and all -- all things about me are new. If I am not in Christ, I will be stuck - in bondage and sorrow. I will then wander from my purpose which is to serve God with joy and gladness of heart, which in turn gives me meaning. And the meaning I receive from carrying out my purpose then fills me with peace. These three words then bring me Freedom Through Happiness - Happiness Through Freedom. When I comprehend and carry out my purpose, meaning, and peace; I experience freedom through happiness - happiness through freedom despite of my environment (physical prison). I have found that Deuteronomy 28:45-48 - "(45) Moreover all those curses shall come upon you 3 and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. (46) And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. (47) Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, (48) therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you." is a warning; so, I want to heed it to serve God. Freedom through happiness - happiness through freedom are interdependent; they must not be separated. I cannot have freedom without happiness. This is easy. My seen, for example, in parties. Happiness is apparent, but upon conclusion of the music and drinking, are the consequences of substance dependence and interpersonal problems. I serve as example of this. When I visited clubs, I would order at least two Long Island Iced Tea before approaching the ladies. I now understand I was numbing my inhibitions. This approach to festivity, and pursuit of a happy moment I now understand is what is called "liquid courage." It could be argued that I gained insight thanks to my analysis of the past so that there can be healing; I disagree. Analysis of the past simply led me to greater awareness of my memory 4 of my past; thus, reinforcing the trauma which is contraproductive to healing. In addition, as can be observed by examples above in paragraph two, I had not had a clear purpose, meaning, and peace. Thus, I was in bondage and sorrow - sorrow and bondage. At the same time I could not have happiness through freedom because without my discovery that my happiness was not dependent upon my location, I was mentally enslaved. I argue and my experience bears fruit that Philippians 4:4-9 is essential to healing from my past; not dwelling on it: "(4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (5) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The lord is at hand. (6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things ar pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is any thing praiseworthy - meditate on these things. (9) The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Holy Bible NKJV 5 because when I heed the above, I equip myself with an arsenal of powerful words... Rejoice, be not anxious, pray, supplicate, give thanks, let God know my requests; which then give me peace because of the aim and sense behind such words. Also, in verse (8), I am told on what to meditate, and in verse (9) is further guidance for peace. As a result of peace with these words, I gain freedom through happiness. Proverbs 3:13-14 says it well - "(13) Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; (14) for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold." Holy Bible NKJV By the purpose of serving God through pursuit of wisdom, I then seek things above and walk according to Colossians 3:1-5 - "(1) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (5) Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Holy Bible NKJV 6 As I alluded to in paragraph two, freedom and happiness cannot be to separated because I cannot truly be free if I am unhappy; I cannot truly be happy if I am not free. When I understood these dynamics, I realized that I must do my absolute best to enhance the quality of how I respond to my environment and this is why the discovery and pursuit of wisdom is so crucial. I argue that there can be freedom through happiness. I have found happiness (Proverbs 3:13-14), which gave me freedom (of mind -- see John 8:31-32). By embracing freedom and continuing in it, I receive happiness. Prior to this discovery, I had had freedom (in my society, yet was mentally bound) and I was unhappy. It took me 25 years of total imprisonment to realize happiness which came from the freedom (mental) I discovered in prison. Conclusion. This essay will benefit all capable of reading, and if read many times, it will help them in grasping my concept of freedom through happiness - happiness through freedom which I attained by discovery of my purpose, meaning, and peace. Douglas L. Griffith, Jr. Mule Creek State Prison P.O. Box 409089 Ione, CA 95640