The Happiness Handbook: Five Biblical And Scientifically Verifiable Ways To Live a Joyous Life

By Mark Albert

Happiness, for many, seems as elusive as a snow leopard in the Himalayan Mountains. But within this handbook, a simple research paper, we will find that a joyous life is not a pipedream; it is within our grasp. Mark A. Albert reveals this truth when he compares what the Bible says about happiness, to insights from a multitude of current, peer-reviewed studies. An ancient text and modern scientific knowledge are juxtaposed to bring hope to those battling discouragement. The Happiness Handbook pulls back the curtain, allowing us to see that, with a few simple adjustments, we can reset our physical, emotional, and spiritual systems back to the original factory specifications of health and wellness. When we reboot the mechanism, it will activate our built-in, happiness response. This joyous lifestyle, however, does not simply fall into our lap. We must be actively involved in the process. We must make some conscious choices. How, exactly, are we to become involved in resetting our systems? What conscious choices must we make to reboot the mechanism? In a unique twist, Albert reveals that we are like a five-speed manual transmission vehicle. Each gear is precisely designed to increase our momentum and trigger happiness within. As we shift from one gear to another, a joyous life will unfold before us, and despair will become a memory, disappearing in our rearview mirror. With the wind in our hair and joy in our heart, we will navigate the highway of life with a newfound happiness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781640289642

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The

Happiness

Handbook

Five Biblical And Scientifically Verifiable Ways

To Live a Joyous Life

Mark A. Albert

ISBN 978-1-64028-963-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64028-964-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Mark A. Albert

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

As a teacher, I spend a great deal of my school year asking questions then encouraging my students to find the answers. I make every effort not to share everything that I know within a classroom setting. If I simply answer every question for my students, I would become, in their minds, the expert in the room, and no further discussion or inquiry would be necessary. I would ask them a question, a few moments of silence would ensue, the answer would be revealed, and the cycle would repeat itself, ad nauseam. That is unacceptable to me; that is not real learning!

Real learning involves the development of the critical thinking skills that are necessary to face the world in which they are about to enter. I prefer, instead, to challenge them to find the answer, search it out, and become engaged in the inquiry process. In so doing, they learn an essential life skill of their own. If I can encourage students to access information, then discern between a good source of information, such as a peer-reviewed scientific study, and a less credible source of information, such as a tabloid newspaper in the grocery store aisle or a random meme on Facebook, then I have helped them to accomplish a skill set that will serve them well in the future.

Sometimes, just for fun, I follow the above classroom procedure in my private life, because my mind seems to work best when it is asking questions and seeking answers. Yes, while praying, or studying, or talking with a friend, a question will pop into my head; then, over the next few days, or weeks, or months, I will begin a systematic search for the answer. One morning, during my 4:30 a.m. quiet time, I was reading my Bible when such a journey began. I came across the following thought, written by King Solomon, purportedly the wisest man that ever lived:

"Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works" (Ecclesiastes 9:7, New American Standard Version).

Within the time it took me to read that short passage, something stirred within my soul: if we are being told to eat in happiness and drink with a cheerful heart, does that mean that God, Himself, wants us happy? Is God concerned about this area of our life? So I began to search the ancient text. It did not take long to find the answer. Multiple passages within the Bible discuss this very topic. God does, indeed, want us to experience happiness on earth. The Book encourages us to live a joyous life.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3, New International Version).

Those who trust the Lord will be joyful (New Living Translation, Proverbs 16:20).

Having discovered the answer to my initial question, a second series of questions came to mind. (See how the process works for me?) If the Bible says that we are to enjoy life and be happy, then why are so many people unhappy? Are there some biblical things that we can do that will trigger our happiness response? Conversely, are there some things we should stop doing because they hinder happiness? If the Bible can answer both of those questions in the affirmative, can we go even deeper? Can those spiritual concepts revealed in the Bible also be verified scientifically? In other words, does research prove that we can achieve a sense of happiness and contentment in life by activating a few spiritual principles?

Long before the sun arose on that unassuming day months ago, this project was birthed in my heart. Having done due diligence to my classroom methodology, I felt compelled to share the results of my research. The information found within this text has been assembled in the format of a simple handbook: a series of step-by-step instructions that will help us to operate more efficiently, in the area of happiness. May the material contained in the following pages be a source of enlightenment that takes you farther than you ever thought possible on this joyous journey that we call life.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Albert

Happiness: Factory Specifications and Benefits

As we begin, let us make a bold declaration: You can live a happy life! Living daily with a sense of joy is not a pipedream; it is within the grasp of all who seek! The Bible, on which this simple handbook is based, confirms that happiness is possible.

"There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find joy in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find joy comes from God" (Ecclesiastes 2:24, NET Bible).

"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy" (Ecclesiastes 2:26, King James Version).

In the pages of the ancient text, we learn that God has created us, and within that divine creation resides all the gifts and abilities necessary to live a joyous life. Like any owner’s manual, however, we are consistently told that in order to function at our highest capacity we must follow the procedures and practices recommended by the manufacturer because there are dark forces at work that can damage the apparatus.

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]" (John 10:10, Amplified Bible).

Jesus is telling us that when we yield to God, and His plan, then excessive wear and tear will be avoided, stress on the mechanism will be reduced, and happiness will be achieved! Refusal to do so will bring different results. One might expect insights like this from the Bible; it covers so