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Step back and see the bigger picture.
By Tovari Eliyah — Written on May 21, 2018
Nowadays, there are a wide variety of frameworks and systems by which people can seek supposed "happiness" and emotional awareness in life.
The search for human happiness is natural and not to be discounted. It is one of those motivations by which we make our daily lives worth living by doing everything we can to find ways on how to be happy.
However, as we might immerse ourselves in the different schemes and programs for hunting down the elusive bluebird of happiness, we tend to focus in on certain trees and lose sight of the whole forest, thus forgetting where we are.
What is happiness?
One of the oldest and most well-known statements about "happiness" comes from the ancient Greek, Thucydides: "The secret to happiness is freedom…and the secret to freedom is courage."
We may then ask, "Freedom from what?" From all relationship bonds? From all behavior boundaries? From all responsibilities? Or from what?
Thucydides’ comment sounds attractive to our modern sensitivities about individual rights, the power to be who we really are, and reaching for our deepest desires.
But, freedom from everything is not good, wise, healthy, or satisfying. Nor can we rightly say that happiness is collecting and owning physical things, because material things do not last.
Whatever true happiness is, we intimately know that in the end, money and wealth cannot buy it or preserve it. Money and wealth can buy us comfort, pleasure, entertainment, and fulfill physical needs and stability, but does not give lasting satisfaction or lasting life.
The Bible recognizes this with the proverb: "Just as death and destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied."
By this wisdom, the Bible starkly reminds us that true happiness on earth is not obtaining all our human desires, for our desires never end. So, where hides the game-playing child we call True Happiness?
What is the five-fold human nature?
We hunt the bird. We tend to focus on certain trees and lose sight of the big forest when we ignore the reality that human nature is five-fold in facet:
- Physical
- Mental
- Emotional
- Social
- Spiritual
The five-fold human nature represents the entire forest that must be viewed and valued for where true happiness is. There generally occurs an imbalance in human experience concerning the five-fold human nature. The imbalance is that the spiritual aspect is too often denied, ignored, or half-heartedly understood and applied.
If true happiness in earthly life is to be discovered in its hiding place, all five human facets must be searched and developed. The oft deprived spiritual aspect must be valued, cared for, fed, and given its proper status.
There have been many people of varied world religions who strongly value the importance of the spirituality of mankind. The thirst for spiritual knowledge is inherent in human nature. Human spirituality is too ancient, consistent, and common worldwide to be ignored or denied.
The present discussion is not about comparing religious views of how to live in happiness on earth. This discussion is to appreciate the five-fold design of human nature, give due attention to the spiritual aspect, and offer a helpful program.
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True Happiness is perspective and balance.
True happiness in earthly life consists of a state of being — a perspective about one’s self and life and how this perspective is applied every day in one’s relationships and activities.
True happiness in earthly life must combine due respect and attention to the physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, and social facets of the human being. Just as we speak of physical health, mental health, emotional health, or good social interaction, there is also spiritual health. Lack of health brings sickness.
All five facets of human nature need to be cultivated and cared for. Men and women need to give more careful and devout attention to their spiritual life for spiritual health.
It is important to understand that combination and cultivation of all five aspects of human nature will produce a balanced but imperfect state of being and thinking for we cannot avoid imperfection in earthly life. However, that balanced but imperfect state of being and thinking is where true happiness is found.
Shalom as happiness.
This writer appreciates most and upholds the Biblical perspective of human happiness. The Judeo-Christian Bible addresses the subject of happiness on earth through the Hebrew concept of "shalom."
Shalom is an ancient Hebrew noun that can be variously translated into English as completeness, satisfaction, fulfillment, harmony, peace, soundness, wellness, happiness, contentment, or prosperity.
The concept of "shalom" is very broad in content. The term "completeness" is the best English rendering of "shalom", depending on the sentence context.
Shalom or completeness is the clearest way the Bible refers to happiness in man’s life on earth.
One way to describe "shalom" (completeness) is that it refers to an ideal state of being and living. Ideally, shalom means a person feels satisfied and full in every area of his/her life, every day.
Obviously then, shalom will not be perfectly experienced in earthly life; but shalom in daily life is something men and women should work toward, giving attention and focusing their desire and effort on it.
Actually, men and women do strive for shalom (completeness) in their lives every day. Most people either do not realize it is a Biblical concept or does not value how to enter it as the Bible instructs.
Shalom is not an object; it is an ideal, a peaceful satisfying daily perspective, whereby one feels content, though other people do not.
Shalom is the Bible’s way of talking about human happiness in earthly life. The Bible also clearly instructs on physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, and social health and wellness. As such, shalom requires a spiritual health aspect. This motivation is why this writer, being a Biblical believer and counselor, has designed the program called Shalom Psychology.
Shalom Psychology is a program to educate people on what Biblical shalom means in daily life and how to enter into it. There is overlap between Shalom Psychology, Happiness Psychology, and Positive Psychology. Shalom Psychology is the Biblical perspective.
All human beings desire and seek happiness in life.
Human nature consists of five aspects, all of which should be cultivated and cared for. "Shalom" is a Biblical Hebrew term that is used to describe human happiness on earth. Shalom as human happiness must include spiritual life and health along with mental, social, emotional, and physical health.
To accomplish shalom is happiness in daily life so far as we can reach it. Shalom in daily life is available to all men and women, for it is a perspective, not an object.
Tovari E. Eliyah, MDiv., is a Biblical counselor, coach, Rabbi-pastor, church/ministry consultant, church planter, teacher, writer, paralegal, and small business owner. Tovari has established the wellness system called Shalom Psychology. You can read more from Tovari at on his website or search "Tovari Eshual Eliyah” in Facebook.
This article was originally published at Divine Glory Life Ministries. Reprinted with permission from the author.