A box of herb tea carried a little message on “How to Be Happy.”  It quoted John Stuart Mill, one of my favorite philosophers.  Mill said, “Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means but as itself 
an ideal end.  Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way.”  Having our mind fixed on something gets it off our ego flights and monkey mind jabbering.  For today, let’s get our mind fixed on our art.  And yes, we all have an art.  It may be songwriting or painting, and it may be auto body work.  Whatever it is, it is a way out of our self-obsession.  It is a way to lose ourselves, or more correctly, a way to become a part of something bigger and to enjoy the perspective from something great by humbling ourselves into a smaller but essential task that makes greatness possible.  For instance the application to painting, immerses us in Beauty, the application of mathematical precision immerses us in Science.  Attention to detail dispels error, immerses us in Truth.
             To paraphrase one of Jesus’ great paradoxes, ‘He that loses his life shall save it, and he that saves his life shall lose it.’  In a way, I think Jesus was saying something very close to what John Stuart Mill said—or, Mill was elaborating something out of his own Christian upbringing.  Both would have agreed, that ‘He who loses himself in his own art or in service to others will be paid off in the coin of happiness.’  
             Witness Mary Delaney.  She counsels at a recovery center in Atlanta.  She became an alcoholic and discovered recovery was related to her own return to her art.  She wrote a wonderful book, The Art of Recovery: Thoughts and Meditations for the Recovering Artist (Ultimate Publishing, Box 1375, Decatur, GA 30031).  If you’re discouraged, you’ll find loads here to yellow-highlight in this little book.  If the rest of the world doesn’t seem to acknowledge or appreciate your efforts, if the harder you try the more anxiety you feel, consider the solution Mary found: just write or sing or speak or DO like Mill said, “as itself an ideal end.”  Do it for the inherent joy!  Do it for itself!  Do it because God blesses the flexing of a God-given creative muscle.  The secret to a happy life really is to exercise the gift or gifts God has given you.  It makes for the healthy pursuit of happiness, and it just makes good horse sense.
              After all, ‘See the lilies of the field, how they spin not nor toil.’  Flowers bloom because flowers love to bloom.  If you enjoy them, they probably sense it because studies have shown flowers respond to human kindness and appreciation, but whether or not anyone enjoys them, they are going to bloom.  So...bloom!  Do your thing!  You are one of God’s flowers too.  Bloom just for the fun of it.  Moreover, I’d venture to say that if anyone acknowledges or appreciates your efforts someday, then it will come from making His will your purpose; from using the gifts He gave you—your own special art to make the world a better place.  In so doing, your focus and concentration upon the work glorifies Him and also magnifies yourself in His image.  And this is what is meant to find All in all, as well as happiness by the way.                                            

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Wesley Allen Riddle is a retired military officer with degrees and honors from West Point and Oxford.  Widely published in the academic and opinion press, he serves as State Director of the Republican Freedom Coalition (RFC).  His newly released book, Horse Sense for the New Millennium is available on-line at www.WesRiddle.net and from fine bookstores everywhere.  Email: Wes@WesRiddle.com.  This piece is based on an article by Tennessee native and poet Dalton Roberts (see www.daltonroberts.com.