We are at the end of Resisting Happiness. If you have finished the book, great, you are one of the 43 percent who will do so. If you have not cracked the cover, overcome the resistance today and pick it up. Happiness is a choice and resistance always stands between you and happiness.
Why do we let resistance control our lives? Because we don’t trust. We don’t trust that God wants the best for us, that God can love us unconditionally. We don’t trust that the gifts and talents we have are good enough. We don’t trust that God could choose someone like me to do good things. We let our critics, our negative thoughts overwhelm the goodness we have as made in the image and likeness of God.
How can we overcome resistance? We have to make ourselves available to God and surround ourselves with people who affirm our gifts and talents and genuinely see us for who we are and what we were created to be,
people who will challenge us to not hide our gifts, who will challenge us to move beyond our bad habits of laziness, procrastination, fear, comparing ourselves to others and to ignore critics who belittle and discourage us.
God has made each one of us for a unique service and mission to the world. He gives us the talent, the gifts and the tools to carry out this mission. We have to acknowledge our gifts, be available to God and give up control. St. John Paul the Great said, “place your talents and your enthusiasm at the service of life.” When we do we find happiness, it is a blessing and with blessings come responsibilities. Our response to blessings is gratitude. Take that gratitude along with your gifts and talents into the world with persistence and determination. Persistence, determination, prayer and a strong relationship with God will overcome resistance and we can let our light shine.
If you did not receive or need another book to pass along we have more in the Parish Office.