![Can I Be Happy When I Don’t Feel It? [Episode 26]](https://www.jenniferrothschild.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03_07_2019_Pod_26_CanIBeHappyWhenIDontFeelIt_Jan.jpg)
“It’s hard to make flamingos happy.” That’s what my son, Clayton, said to his friend, Brandon, a few years ago.
“How do you know about the emotional state of flamingos?” I asked as I placed a cheese pizza on the table.
Tag Archives: happiness
When Resentment Steals Your Joy: 4 Questions and 1 Prayer
Resentment. We all feel it from time to time.
It’s like the invisible undertow in the ocean that sweeps away even the most experienced swimmer. It pulls at us. It sucks us down into a pit of bitterness.
We hold a grudge. We secretly fume about what he said or she did. We keep a running list of how we’ve been wronged. We review how we’ve been hurt.
It is subtle until it is sudden.
Letting Go of What You Thought for What Is True
In 2006, I was a guest on the Dr. Phil Show. Oh my gosh, girl! It was a fantastic experience full of surprises and expectations. I expected to have a pre-interview with a producer. I expected to have a totally interesting and slightly intimidating experience on set. I expected to have my make-up professionally done there in the studio. I expected cameras, questions and lots of nerves! I didn’t expect to talk to Dr. Phil personally offstage though. And if I did get to meet him, I expected him to be hurried and professional but not as engaging in private as he was on TV.
Well, most of my expectations were correct. I pre-interviewed with a producer. There were cameras, professional make-up (thank you, Lord), lots of questions and even more nerves! But, what I expected from Dr. Phil personally was not what I got! I expected him to be hurried. And, even though he was in a hurry, he wasn’t rushed. He was warm and casual. I expected him to be more guarded or distant in person than he seems to be on TV. Nope, he was so engaging and genuinely personally interested in me. I was totally thrown off – he was not who I expected him to be.
Give Up on Being Perfect
Do you feel like everything in your life has to be perfect to be successful?
According to the General Social Survey, which has tracked Americans’ moods since 1972…
Why Happiness is Hiding From You
A few years ago (ok, maybe like 10!), my family gathered around a large cheese pizza and I overheard a conversation between our son Clayton and his friend Brandon. “It’s hard to make flamingo’s happy,” Brandon sighed with resignation.
“I know,” consoled Clayton.
“What?” I asked. “How do your boys know about the emotional state of flamingos?!”
I Love My Husband, But…
Happy Valentine’s Day week! It’s that time of the year when we are surrounded by paper hearts and lots of chocolate (and I’m definitely not going to complain about extra chocolate!) But, instead of talking you about how much I love my husband, I wanted to tell you about something that has been on my mind lately. Best rest assured, it still has lots to do with love, love, love.
My daughter-in-law, Caroline, guest posted an insightful blog a while back. You may remember it; it was called My Husband Doesn’t Fulfill Me. She has been married just over a year and has come to the conclusion that her husband, my son, does not fulfill her. Now, lest you think that is a blight against my dear son, it isn’t! When she says her husband doesn’t fulfill her, she is making the point that a man is not supposed to totally fulfill his wife.
Total fulfillment can only come from God.
Her post got me to thinking. I have been married 27 years and my husband doesn’t fulfill me either. In fact, he never has. And the sad thing is, I used to blame him for it.
