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Be Here

I read a book recently that reminded me if we are always waiting for the next good thing -- a "better" house, a "better" job, a "better" location, a "better" spouse, the next vacation, your child's next developmental milestone -- you are never fully in the moment and, therefore, you never fully appreciate what you have.

We live in a society that teaches us that bigger is better, surplus is superior to enough, wants are more important than our needs, and the next step will make us happier than where we are. But what happens when you reach that next step? Is all that glitters gold? Does chasing happiness bring us joy? Or does reaching that next step leave us in search of the next best thing? The next hit? The next high?

What would life look like, then, if we put our focus on where we are? If we chose joy in any and all circumstances? I'm not saying that we should not have goals to improve ourselves or that we do not deserve to be happy. What I am saying is that we can find happiness where we are simply by being here... by being present.

Life isn't about how big your house or how big your paycheck. Life isn't even about whether or not I reach my goal of publishing my first book this year.

Life is about what happens within the walls of your house. It is about what you do with your paycheck, no matter the size. Life is about what happens in the moments in between goals. Life is about relationship...about how you treat people. Life is about love. And most importantly, life is about being here and finding joy right where you are.

Not to be cliche, but if you blink, you'll miss the best things life has to offer. So stop chasing what the world is dangling as success and happiness, and look within yourself to find that inner joy.

Find Jesus. Find contentment. Find your best life.

And instead of running with it, sit with it.

Savor it.

Live it.

((This post inspired by How to Be Here by Rob Bell))

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