Maximum Happiness

Maximum Happiness!!!

This afternoon as I was glancing a book called You by Fulton J. Sheen, I was thrilled with the insight that was in the book. Fulton’s uses down to earth example here to convey something transcendent. Hope you too enjoy and gain from this message...

“Anyone who gives freedom to another assumes great risks, whether it be a parent to a child or a Creator to a creature. In a certain sense, even God took a great risk when He made man free, for the very freedom to become a child of God implied the possibility of becoming a rebel.

Since God made us free to choose what is right, we are also free to choose the wrong. We too often interpret freedom as the right to break God’s commandments. When you buy an automobile, the manufacturer will give you a set of instructions. He will tell you the pressure to which you ought to inflate you tires, the kind of oil your ought to use in the crankcase, and the proper fuel to put in the gas tank really, he has nothing against you because he gives you these instructions, as God had nothing against you in giving you His commandment. The manufacturer wants to be helpful: he is anxious that you get the maximum utility out of the car. And God is more anxious that you get the maximum happiness out of life. That is why He gives you commandments.

"Inner urge to be Authentic"

"Inner urge to be Authentic"

Authenticity according to Oxford dictionary means ‘the quality of being genuine or true.’ If someone asks you, who is an authentic person? What will be your answer? Some may say: one who is sincere, honest, faithful, trustworthy, truthful, courageous and loving. All these qualities are applicable to an authentic person.

Have you ever listened to your heart, gently calling you to be authentic? I am sure in various stages and situations of your life, you might have strongly felt an inner urge to be authentic. If one has given a serious thought about it, ‘life is definitely going to be different.’

Journeying towards self-authenticity needs courage and daily effort. For instance, a person has to strive towards truthfulness in his or her daily affair. Besides, he or she possesses the courage to accept and admit the mistakes or limitation with openness to improve. So, to be authentic means the courage to be true-self and be transparent which require continuous effort.

It is important to note that authenticity calls for loving self and the others. Firstly, to love self means not to misuse or abuse oneself, physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and sexually. On the contrary growth is fostered in all these areas. Secondly, to love others means to be more understanding and to trust the other person. The love of neighbour also calls for being true-self which means the avoidance of double-behaviour.

An authentic person enjoys inner freedom and has strong courage to stand for any noble cause without fear and shame. The world has indeed witnessed many authentic persons such as: Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, holy men and women, and simple people form various walks of life. These people though they have left the world, yet their authentic lives continue to inspire people across races, nations, cultures, religions and languages.

It is easy to perform good deeds, but it is difficult to be first authentic and perform good deeds. The inner urge to be authentic means to love oneself and others. Whoever we are and whatever we do, each one is called to grow into loving person day by day, for Authenticity is Love.