Is happiness a state of mind or a servant of circumstance? Happiness means different things to different people. For some, happiness is a lazy hammock and a cool drink sloshing by the seashore. For others, happiness is a day of hard work well done. For those ravaged by war, famine or disease it is difficult to imagine happiness at all. Yet, I have seen people in such circumstances, that were happier than anyone I know trolling for the day’s catch on Madison Avenue or Wall Street.

Happiness Quiz

Let’s take a happiness quiz. Answer honestly and see how you rank. There is nothing scientific here, but these are questions I have pondered over the years. Rate yourself from 1 to 5, with 5 being very satisfied, 4 satisfied, 3 neutral, 2 somewhat dissatisfied, and 1 very dissatisfied.

  1. Serving others:
  2. My peace of mind:
  3. My goals achieved:
  4. My response to adversity:
  5. My adaptability to change:
  6. Family and friends in my life:
  7. My joy in the success of others:
  8. My ability to separate need from want:
  9. My positive outlook for the next 5 years:
  10. How others feel when they are around me:

If you scored 40 or more, congratulations, you probably feel contentment and would say you are happy. If you scored less than 20, you might feel generally unhappy.

Happy Missionaries Hyatt, Mayes, Millevo. Baguio Mission 5.2.13

What Can We Learn from the Scriptures?

In the Book of Mormon, the people of Nephi lived “after the manner of happiness” (2 Ne 5:27). Rebuilding after being displaced to escape persecution these people were industrious, prosperous, united in work and worship, and well-prepared to defend their new community. By contrast, two brothers named Laman and Lemuel hailed from a wealthy family, but wallowed in their afflictions when displaced from comfort and country: “Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy” (1 Ne 17:21). This “might have been happy” lament is a common theme among those who don’t adapt well to changed circumstance.

Even in the depths of despair in a dungeon the Lord told Joseph Smith, “… if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way…” (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9).

From these scriptures we can glean five characteristics of happy people: serving others in united efforts; love of God and fellowman; gratitude (even for trials); self-control; adaptability. For me, gratitude and adaptability are key. Without the syncopation of change we couldn’t grow any more than a string of identical musical notes could evolve from monotone to symphony. Rather than curse change we can adapt and flourish in every season, recognizing that: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Absent clinical depression or other conditions, my happiness quiz implies that you can control your attitude and improve your feelings of well-being. Some will argue with #10 in the quiz, but may I suggest that attitude is infectious. You can, indeed, impact the way others feel about you.

As with a tender plant, happiness cannot flourish in the shadows. Truly, happiness is an attitude to be cultivated. When seen as a virtue instead of a shadowy fiction, happiness can grow from moment to moment as we nurture and nourish it in the light of (and despite) present circumstance. If you doubt this, ask any recently returned missionary whether he or she was happy in the love and service of others despite challenging conditions.

As we round into the holy days, may we be grateful for life and happy about the opportunities for growth through challenges in every season. Where is happy bred?… decidedly in the grateful heart and willing head.