Looking Out

What causes the most unhappiness in life? I'll tell you. Selfishness. Much of the sins in this life are due to selfish thoughts. If you're view point in life is "What's in it for me?" there won't be enough for you in life. You'd assume it follows then that selflessness brings the greatest joy. I'd assumed so too . . .

A couple weeks ago I wrote the following journal entry,
"Today was one of those days that I wish I could bottle up in a jar and then take just one sip every day for the rest of my life. This semester is going to be wonderful. This morning I told God in my morning prayer that I wanted Him to give all my blessings to a friend. Tonight, as I sat reflecting on my day, I couldn't help but smile and think, "He must not have heard."
Well, I'm here to tell you that God does answer prayers.

I should be happy then right? Well . . . in a perfect world, I would be. But the world's not perfect and neither am I. At times you could say I get jealous.
In the weeks following that prayer I lost a good friend, but I've also learned what it truly means to be selfless.

I was sitting in church when the thought occurred to me, "Brooke, would you be willing to give up nearly all your friends and loved ones if by so doing you could ensure that no one would ever go without a friend?"
I thought about it for a moment. I wasn't sure. Then the thought occurred to me, "That's what Christ did for you."
He did nothing for himself.

Though at times I am jealous, though at times I wish that I could take back my prayer, when I am truly thinking of others and filled with the love of God, I could not be happier.
I could not be happier for my friend, and as I am able to find joy in her successes I find joy in my own life as well.
There are so many reasons to be happy, if only we have the heart to look outside ourselves.

In short, happiness is found while looking out.

Candidly,
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