Small Happinesses

Happiness is one person's emotion. No one can experience happiness for another, it comes from within the person. We presume another person's happiness by seeing their activities, peacefulness and hearing their words. Each one's happiness is unique to the person. God made all us different and our experience of happiness is different. So begins an article in Bible & Life on happiness by a psychiatrist.
 
The way we define happiness is different depending on the person asked. The writer wants to see it as the moment you want to last a lifetime. We know that this moment will not last but it is our prayer and our desire.
 
In the network of the cells of the brain are many chemical neurotransmitters.They are different from hormones but they are substances in the brain similar to hormones: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine and influence our emotions and actions. Since the neural network of our brains is influenced by these hormones—the chemical condition of our brains—many materialists and atheists see life from this viewpoint,  the writer does not.
 
All these elements which we can't see are all God's creation. God is not only with us in areas that we can understand, but in those we still have not discovered. At any rate, each neurotransmitter can directly or indirectly influence neurons in a specific portion of the brain, thereby affecting behavior. However, depending on which neurotransmitter is active, it determines which part of our brain is active or sleeping. In the state of happiness, neurotransmitters in the brain will be in balance.
 
Serotonin is connected with peace, security. Meditation and prayer are ways to activate this area, when this is not activated harmoniously we have depression. Dopamine is connected with conflict and reward. To receive a feeling of joy or a sense of accomplishment dopamine is necessary, liquor, tobacco, and gambling etc, also bring about the secretions of dopamine and the reason for addiction.

"Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way because it promises life both for the present and for the future" (I Tim. 4:8). What we lack because of the chemistry of the brain God can work in his own way. If we were always happy we would never understand what happiness meant. "When times are prosperous, enjoy your happiness; when times are bad, consider this: the one is God's doing as is the other..."  (Qoh. 7"14). Happiness is fleeting, we remember those moments of happiness in life and pray.
 
A mistake we often make in the community is to think that what I need is what other's need. With this self-righteousness, we often inflict pain on others.  God's grace is different for each. God and I both know whether my mental condition is one of peace or not. He concludes the article  with a quote: "Do not neglect the spiritual gift that  is in you..." (I Tim. 4:14). In this realm we are easily deceived. We need to find joy in God and find many small happinesses in our journey of life.