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“Our external circumstances do not have the inherent power to bring us happiness.”

A thought by Henry Cloud, from his book, The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can Change Your Life (The Secret Things of God) (p. 6). Howard Books. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I know we on the surface believe that is true but we really don’t live like it.

Henry says, “What has the research into happiness shown us about our circumstances? The answer is surprising, especially since we live in a culture that is obsessed with the list above and others like it. Here is the finding: Circumstances account for only about 10 percent of our happiness. (1)

He then says, “It is true that when you get a promotion or that new car you have wanted or most anything else on the list, you will feel a sense of happiness for a little while. But what science has found is that you might think you are going to be a lot happier than you actually are after you get what you want. Circumstantial things or events have the power to make us happier—but only a little bit—and as we shall see in a moment, only for a little while. As my father used to tell me, ‘Son, money can’t buy happiness. But it can buy you a big red Cadillac to go look for it in.’

“In other words, money is not a bad thing, nor are nice houses. But don’t bank on it as the answer to happiness. I do remember when my dad got his first Cadillac—and it was a happy day for him—but as I have come to understand from my professional life and experience, the happiness that he brought to that day from living a certain kind of life was much more powerful than that car ever could be. All the car did was give him a comfortable ride to his various life activities, which were already producing his real and lasting happiness and continued to do so for most of his ninety-four years.”

Henry goes on, “The fact that our circumstances have limited power to make us happy has been documented in the research; but if you think about it for a minute, you already know this from your observations while standing at the check-out counter at any grocery store. Look at the magazine headlines and you will see rich, beautiful, accomplished, famous, slim, and successful people, but with all sorts of unhappiness, from relational turmoil to drug abuse and overdose, and even suicide. If circumstantial things could bring us lasting happiness, we would not be seeing those sad headlines. And the flip side is this: if circumstantial things and events are the sources of happiness, why are there so many happy people who don’t have many of those things going for them? In fact, studies have shown that the happiness levels between rich people and average-income people is not that different. The findings say that once a certain safety and sustenance level has been reached, more money is not going to bring much more happiness. (2)

And that is a very good thing to know, isn’t it? 

Yes, yes!

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