Happiness Obsessed

Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.

- William James

We live in a happiness obsessed culture.

I mean, if you’re not happy, then something must be wrong. As if happiness is this thing that exists, like air, and we’re all entitled to a portion of it. If you’re not happy, then by God, someone is standing in your way.

You should be happy with your job. If you’re not happy, then quit! Go find something that makes you happy.

You should focus on your children’s happiness. Fuck character, fuck integrity, fuck honor. Happiness is all that matters.

You should evaluate the world, find every-single-thing that does not make you happy, and attack it! Fuck freedom. Fuck mutual benefit. Fuck allowing others to have an opinion different than yours. As long as YOU ARE HAPPY!

Folks, I’m going to tell you right now, if you feel like you deserve happiness, then it’s time to stop hanging off mommy’s tits and realize that no one owes you a thing. No one.

If you stumble through life believing that your happiness is someone else’s responsibility, you’ll grow frustrated. Everywhere you go you will always find something to complain about, something to offend you, and something to block you.

How do you find happiness?

Start with these three things:

• Stop expecting people to do what you think they should be doing. They never will. Worry about you and leave everyone else alone.

• Focus on health! Health is everything. It trumps money, it trumps fame, it trumps ten hot girls massaging your feet (assuming you’re a dude) – none of those things matter if you can’t enjoy them. Focus on health!

• Surrender to God. As A.W. Tozer said, “The soul senses its origin and it longs to return to its source.” Humble yourself. Not everything starts and stops with you.

Those are three simple things, but they are life-long pursuits. Which one do you start with?

Health.

If you don’t, you may wake up one day and realize it’s too late for the other two.

Your effort, your choice, your life!

My name is David Odle. I’m an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, fitness enthusiast, and author. I spent seven years in the military, primarily in the U.S. Marine Corps. I’m a Spartan Race competitor, an avid fitness fan, and a 5k enthusiast. My mission is to help people transform into better versions of themselves by tapping into their dormant capability. If you’d like my help, you can find me at www.davidodle.com.