Narcissism 101

you seem to be ...uh...'hung up' on happiness

Yes you are? right. At age 61 we are all supposed to be happy. Gloating back on a successful career, still a respected member of the community, grandkids multiplying, good health, money growing on trees out the backyard and looking forward to a nice retirement. I don't tick any of these boxes. Should I stop comparing myself to others?

sorry, but you don't sound happy

I've learnt to be happy in my misery.
God has felt distant recently it is true. But sometimes I feel his presence and that is a real consolation.

I'm truly sorry to read you are in misery, happiness aside

I'm wondering if starting these threads about happiness is some kind of catharsis for you

It is to be honest. Im sorry if these threads annoy anyone. But they help me a lot. To process my confused thoughts and emotions.
thanks for your concern

Smile. Take a selfie.
Smile . Take another selfie. This time with lots of smiling friends.
The meaning of life is simple. Make others envious of you and your lifestyle.Its more important to look happy than to be happy.
"If I could just be happy as Larry. He really looks so happy. Look at all those happy snaps on Facebook!"
Your goal is not only to impress but also to depress. Make others feel sad they havent got the same raw material as you. Make them doubt their own self worth.
Then you can say you won the game of life! Self congratulations!

I am not annoyed. I thought they were kind of funny

however, I understand now that you have explained where you are coming from

I am so very sorry you are going through something here that has hurt you like this

is there some way you can let us know a little about what bothers you so? only in the hopes of better understanding you

no worries if you do not. God knows and we should respond in prayer for you.

what empathy and sensitivity! I didn't expect that to be honest.
My age and lack of success in life is a big concern. As is my future, with my wife's cancer recurring yet again recently. My back /achilles/foor issues are a daily cross to bear...….
here I am moaning about life and there so many blessing s I feel grateful for from God. Living near the beach, nice weather, gorgeous pet dog, our own house. You must not pity me. God is helping me in His own time. Just I want Him to help in my time frame I truly believe in God. its only recently I have been having doubts and a desolate feeling , lack of faith. I pray but not hard enough. Not consistently enough. I need to pray, pray. pray, pray.....you do realise my mental health is ...? below par? I'm wacko tobacco, not the full quid, not the sharpest tool in the shed either. Im no Bible scholar that is for sure .PM me if you want to know more.....

you know, I have known at least one person that had everything who should have been successful yet they were not...sometimes I guess it depends on how a person defines 'success'...I will say that comparison to others is not the best way to define it though...

I had no idea you were starting these threads with the above thoughts in mind.....it sounded to me almost like someone who just didn't like social media what with the selfies talk and all...but I'm not a fan of social media anyway

I don't pity you...I would not want pity either...but I do feel concern at how you are being so introspective

I don't think you are 2 floors below the basement as you are saying here...beware...I have a bit of whacky sense of humor

listen...about praying until you think you have achieved some quota that guarantees results...God hears us the minute we begin and in particular, I love this verse and have thought of it many times since I first learned of it:

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

tell God exactly how you feel...be genuine...He knows if you doubt or if you believe you can walk on water (by the way you can't)

you do sound somewhat depressed as well so if you can, walking outdoors with your 'gorgeous pet dog' half an hour or even 15 minutes is good for you...and the pup...I have dogs and they are great company, but you know that.

I don't think there is or has ever been, a person who at some time did not 'feel' like praying or had doubts

I am very sorry your wife has cancer that has returned...that is a very heavy burden and it seems things have piled on

are you going to a church? I hope you are not isolating yourself

does any of the above make sense to you?

we cannot earn Gods' love...and sometimes we don't feel love but that is when we need to remember that what God says is true and it is also true, there is another spirit that wants to see us fall

Romans 8:31-39 9Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

another great post. yes you are being helpful.
i go to Church. went last week but skipped the previous 3.
Does my Catholicism bother you? 😁

another great post. yes you are being helpful.
i go to Church. went last week but skipped the previous 3.
Does my Catholicism bother you? 😁

1 Corinthians 15:33
King James Version

33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

You’re catholic?

I didn't know you were Catholic

no

I am not bothered by your 'Catholicism'

pardon my asking here, but have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?

I am asking, because I grew up among many Catholics and I know that not all understand salvation

are you ok with me asking?

I'm going to pm you so that you can reply with confidence that no one will judge you..I certainly won't

since my profile is private, it will take me to pm you

on the other hand, if you wish to just reply here that is also fine

i dont want to start world war 3 against catholicism but we dont pray to Mary. We dont worship Mary. She is an intercessor.
I tend to focus mainly on Jesus anyway.