2 Secrets For Happiness + Motivating Monday

I ran across this familiar happiness formula and decided to think on it more in depth. The first secret says to use things and not people. I feel like we need to qualify that statement. While children are growing and trying to get all of the nourishment, wisdom, and knowledge they can get, they use their parents as much as they can and it's supposed to be that way! For so many reasons. 

It's when that child grows up that we start to run into the problems. I have a friend who swears that her husband didn't get enough love and attention from his mom when he was young because he is so needy, even more so than her own kids. He constantly needs assurance, needs money, needs attention and needs to be right. She feels like she is drained of energy because her husband is unable to give back, emotionally. Hopefully she will be able to help him understand that while it's OK to lean on her, she needs to be able to lean on him too, in order to keep her emotional strength and energy so she can continue to serve her family.

The second secret says to love people and not things...That is true for the most part. What I think it should say, however, is love people MORE than you love things. I think everyone loves a thing or two. I love books, flowers, holidays, art, and music. Am I not to love these things? I think yes, I can, should, and will! But should these things overshadow the love I have for my fellow human beings? It shouldn't and if it does, we have a problem. The 1st and 2nd commandments of Christianity are: 1) Love God with all your heart, might, mind and soul.  2) Love thy neighbor as thyself. 

 I don't believe that laws are given just to make humans miserable. I believe that there are blessings-if you will-to each law of God obeyed. So when you love your neighbor as yourself, when you look for ways to serve and help your fellow man, you will actually be getting your own gifts for doing so! And whether you believe in God or not, it's OK, these are Universal Laws, that apply to everyone. If you obey the law, you will have a blessing attached to it. Maybe you aren't in a place to believe in God, so you can't honor the first law. But can you love your neighbor? If so, do it! You will see that in the doing you'll be happier!
 
Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, mostly non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos!  If I happen to find a great one, I'll link it up and share it with you on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  Sometimes I miss some amazing posts.  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Don't be shy--I'm really very supportive!  Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase!  This week I will be featuring a lot of the A to Z Challenge participating bloggers! Have a great week!