Running from Misery

The dictionary meaning of Misery is — a state or feeling of great physical or mental distress or discomfort. While doing an internet search on one of the common causes of Misery I came across this – ‘There are many causes of human misery that are mostly beyond our control, but there’s one common cause that is almost always totally SELF-IMPOSED — That is, TRYING TO BE LIKED BY EVERYONE.’

No matter what we say or do everyone likes to feel loved. Honestly, we can try hard to do what’s honorable to stay in people’s good books but as most of us would have experienced —- it’s no easy task to accomplish. There will always be people who just don’t like you. And if you find a few who like you — don’t hold your breath for long that can turn quickly by just accidentally dropping your hat on their chair.

In days when I experience the atmosphere changing in my personal space — God sometimes sounds like someone sitting in the backseat of my car. He may say to me while I am driving, “Hey, you missed the exit again (Peace)! Why are you breaking the speed limit in your thinking (Overthinking)? Have I not told you before that I know the plans I have for you? How did you miss the exit AGAIN (PEACE and SERENITY)?”

Then as shy and embarrassed as I can be when I know that I have broken the speed limit in my thinking #Overthinking … I quickly pull off the road and have a self-searching moment. I thank God that He never gives up on us no matter how bad our sense of direction may be. He stays on the journey until we slow down our speeding thoughts and find our way back to our solitary place with Him.

How did we get into misery? By our thought pattern. How would we get out of misery? By letting our thinking line up with God’s thinking. When God says to us that we have missed an exit #PEACE #SERENITY … it’s wise to stop and make a U-turn.

Here’s a story I found on Humans of New York. There are some great stories posted on humansofny everyday … they share beautiful stories of people on the streets of New York.

humansofny: “He’d taken charge of so much during our relationship. He was twelve years older than me, so he made all the decisions: where to go, what to eat, what we were going to buy. He didn’t even like me working. So when he died my life was a mess — literally. I wasn’t quite a hoarder, but close. There was laundry everywhere. The couch was covered with worn shirts. You couldn’t even find a spoon on the table. I couldn’t stand it, so I left it all behind. I traveled for two years, living off the life insurance, running from misery.

But I kept losing my passport. Over and over again. It infuriated me. And that’s how I finally became orderly. By getting so angry that I couldn’t take it anymore. I began with my luggage. I organized everything. I made a place for my papers and keys. Oh, it felt good. I loved it. I could finally relax, To be organized is to be at rest. You should see my home now! It’s immaculate.

Everything has a place. All the clothes are put away. I actually use a catalog to fold them so they’re all the same size. I love every detail. Organizing has become my art. It’s how I express myself.

In February I’m going to the butler academy, It’s a lottery ticket. It’s my dream job. I want to live in a beautiful house, together with a family, and take care of them. I want to take away all the chaos in their life. To order things. To arrange things. To be the one who always has the passports.” (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Here are my thoughts:

You must know your purpose for being alive … your purpose will keep you ALIVE. You cannot live without PURPOSE.

Most people don’t like who they are … so not everybody is going to like you. Admit when you are wrong and don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.

Keep God as your closest companion and He will always let you know when you break the speed limit on your thinking. He keeps you in perfect peace when your thinking is right.

Don’t put all your eggs in someone else’s basket — if they trip/stumble/fall — your eggs will get broken.

Since Jesus went through everything we are going through and more, let’s learn to think like Him. He spent His alone time drawing strength from His Father.

Of course other people may not understand but you don’t have to give an account to them.

1 Peter 4:7-11 says, “Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.”