Chasing paradise . . . keeps us from living in paradise

Chasing paradise . . .

keeps us from living in paradise

Tim Connor

What is paradise? Where is paradise? Ever been there?  Want to be there? There now?

Paradise - a place, situation, or condition in which somebody finds perfect happiness.

How would you define paradise?

Financial independence, the perfect relationship, non-stop fun and pleasure, a satisfying career, vacations 365 days a year, perfect health, no stress, more Face Book friends (just thought I would throw that one in for fun) or something else or all of these and more?

You would be surprised at how many people routinely chase these hoping that they will find paradise or their version of paradise.

Or, there is the spiritual mindset that paradise is heaven on earth but here’s the problem – if everyone defines paradise differently and if they don’t achieve their objectives that they believe will give them paradise, do they live in the opposite - call it what you will.

One of my favorite authors Eric Butterworth once said, “We are not punished for our sins but by them.”  You can interpret this any way you choose, but in the end bad choices, actions, behavior and decisions will sooner or later lead to bad outcomes or consequences. 

Do these lead us away from paradise or keep it at arm’s length?  What do you think?

It’s common knowledge that most humans all want the same things – happiness, freedom, to matter and to have inner peace.  If this is true why do so many people lack them and again research proves that most people lack one or more of them during their life.  For example – recent research says that the United States ranks number 33 on the list of countries who felt they lead a happy life.

Why is this?  Is it our definition of paradise, our relentless pursuit of more that we believe will give us what we want or the simple fact that people don’t recognize what they have and can’t be happy with what they have because they believe that getting more is the answer?

Paradise, whatever your definition, will never be reached as long as it is under the control of something or someone else.  Paradise is not your address, status, fame, fortune or another visit to the cosmetic surgeon’s office.

After spending a good deal of time chasing after paradise I have learned that what matters is – who I am not what others think of me, what I have not what I want, taking better control of what I can control and letting go of what I can’t, learning to embrace each moment as a special gift knowing that millions of people die every day on this planet.

It’s accepting what life gives me and dealing with it with courage, confidence and gratitude and not wasting time in frustration, anxiety, regret or disappointment.

People who live in paradise understand that it’s not where they are, what they are doing or what they have that matters, but the freedom to choose, act, feel, believe and do what is consistent with their interpretation of what they feel is God’s will for their life and to do it with passion, faith and service to others.

Know anyone like this?  Is this you? Or, are you spending hours, days and even years chasing after what is “out there” instead of nurturing what is “inside you?”

“The faultfinder will find faults even in paradise.”

Thoreau