BY ZOE ALDRIDGE
It’s amazing how a woman can appear to “have it all,” yet be incredibly miserable inside. A successful career, husband, kids, and a white picket fence just aren’t enough. So what’s the secret to genuine happiness? In addition to having a solid relationship with God, our editors discovered eight things that happy women do.
1. They Save
Money doesn’t guarantee happiness, but the lack of money can cause a lot of stress. Financial difficulty has been linked to depression and other medical problems (such as weight gain and high blood pressure). So it’s no wonder that happy women tend to save for the future. Financial uncertainty leads to worry, and worry leads to unhappiness. A fancier car and a bigger house don’t make people happy. In fact, the opposite tends to be true. Bigger houses often lead to bigger mortgages. And fancier cars generally lead to higher prices. Proverbs 22:7 warns, “Borrowers are slaves to lenders” (New International Reader’s Version). And happy women are free. They’re not financial slaves.
2. They Don’t Compare
Happy women find joy in who they are, and what they have. No matter their dress size, marital status, or income, they compete with themselves – instead of competing with others. Happy women aren’t perfect, but they celebrate their progress (even a tiny step forward). They keep their eyes on what they’re doing, without envying – or looking down upon – what others are doing. Galatians 6:4 states, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (The Message).
3. They Appreciate the Little Things
Sometimes it feels like everything is going wrong, but happy women remain thankful for the little things. Maybe a relaxing bath, nice cup of coffee, good book, tranquil music, long walk, or something else. Even in moments of defeat, happy women find little pockets of hope. If one door closes, they’re thankful for the opportunity to find a better door. If they make a mistake, they’re grateful for the chance to do better next time. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 encourages, “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (Living Bible).
4. They Embrace the Present
Dwelling on the past can make anyone miserable. And happy women master the art of living in the present. They don’t live in the land of “Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.” Happy women learn from life, and move forward without regrets. Isaiah 43:18-19 encourages, “The Lord says, Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do” (New Century Version). Also, happy women seldom worry about what “could happen” tomorrow. This is smart, because most things people worry about never actually happen.
