THE KEY TO UNHAPPINESS: THE PLEASURE FLASH | People of the Second Chance

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Posted by Mike Foster:

A big mistake we make in life is to base our happiness on a “PLEASURE FLASH.” This is where our life simply jumps from one pleasure to another pleasure. It is a flash of joy and excitement….and then it is over. It is the fast food(junk food) of our souls.

Here is what I mean:

1. Your happiness at work will not be sustained by a pay raise or a year end bonus.

2. Healthy sexuality is not found in a one night stand, 15 minutes of love making with your spouse, or in a porn binge.

3. An exciting worship experience every Sunday will never lead to a sustainable faith.

4. Losing 10 pounds in two weeks will not overcome your dissatisfaction with your body.

5. Buying the “brand of your dreams” will only lead to you wanting more.

6. Winning the game, getting the book deal, or writing the hit song, will never satisfy.

A PLEASURE FLASH can bring excitement, but never happiness.

So right now, take a moment and identify the quick highs in your life.

Is it possible that it is THESE VERY THINGS that are responsible for leaving you empty?

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http://www.mohan37.com/ mohan37

Definitely the conversation I had with myself before accepting Christ. This is obviously something to still watch out for, but it more describes to a T what my life was like before. I still have to work to keep involvement in church from just becoming another 'thing' or 'event,' though.
kenyongerbrandt

I've already come up with a quick list for myself. I'm kind of afraid to actually take time and think through this or even ask someone else to help me see the blind spots I have…There is a level of humility that we always need to be striving for in life and it is so counter culture to what I'm told and encouraged to believe about myself.
http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com @kylelreed

Never heard it called that, but you are dead on.

I often look for these moments to bring me happiness and it never did and still doesn't. Being unemployed and searching for a job brings a lot of pleasure flashes, but if I am not careful I can base my happiness off of these and honestly be left with nothing.

I think it is a lot easier to find happiness in getting a raise, girls, and looking good then in God. You would think it would be the other way around, but it is one of the hardest things to continual find your joy and happiness in God.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1466290373 Jordan Bickimer

Amen! I've got a thousand of them. That next album or comic or book I'm going to buy, the artwork I hope to publish, the next kiss from my girlfriend. I think what leaves us empty, however, is placing our hope for happiness in these things. They are not in and of themselves bad things, but to look at them and say “Aha! Here I have found the desire of my heart!” is to give our heart over to a lesser god that cannot satisfy us.

Good book on the subject: The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

those are great examples jordan…i will have to check out The Sacred Romance…i love John Eldredge!
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

very true kyle! its interesting to look at job hunting through this lens…great thots!
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

thats a great idea kenyon about making a list and even asking for some input from others…
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

church can definitely fall into this category if we arent careful…i think its why so many find it so empty for them in the long run…its only a flash instead of a holistic sustainable faith…
Mary Flanagan Taylor

Well said! …and along those line, if I may http://marymind.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/what-i… and http://marymind.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/have-a…
http://twitter.com/deborahhardy Deborah Hardy

I'm struggling with this very brand of unhappiness right now. Teetering, it seems, on near depressed because the thing that I thought was making me most happy this past year is going to no longer be a part of my life (it's silly and materialistic…a money sucking reoccurring event that I just can't seem to let go).

Thank you, for your blogs. It's not that you always say the things I've never thought, it's just that sometimes hearing someone else tell me what I already knew is a knock upside of the head. Thanks for being my common sense slap. =D
http://twitter.com/deborahhardy Deborah Hardy

I’m struggling with this very brand of unhappiness right now. Teetering, it seems, on near depressed because the thing that I thought was making me most happy this past year is going to no longer be a part of my life (it’s silly and materialistic…a money sucking reoccurring event that I just can’t seem to let go).

Thank you, for your blogs. It’s not that you always say the things I’ve never thought, it’s just that sometimes hearing someone else tell me what I already knew is a knock upside of the head. Thanks for being my common sense slap. =D
http://livinginhebel.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/torn/ torn. « Living in Hebel

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