Are You a Jolly Fellow?

We all strive to find joy within our lives. The pursuit of happiness is one that is shared by every person. For some, it comes easily; they always seem to be happy. Yet for others, it is a struggle. With so many reasons do be miserable and despondent in today’s day and age, how do we go about our pursuit of happiness?

After giving a class on happiness in California a few years back, I was approached by an elderly gentleman who related an interesting story:

There was once an artist who lived with his young son. While the boy was bubbly and full of life, his father was grumpy and showed little patience for his son. Despite the artist’s sour attitude, the young boy showed an incredible love towards his father. Once, on a beautiful day, the father sat outside painting the gorgeous scenery. The sun was beating down on a stunning garden, as white fluffy clouds dappled the blue sky above. The young boy came out and called out to his father, “Daddy, daddy.” The father angrily turned to his son, “Not now son, stop bothering me.” Innocently, the young boy replied, “I don’t mean to disturb. I just wanted to tell you, look, the clouds are posing for you! “

When faced with tough times, we can either choose to wallow in self pity and despair, or see the difficulties for what they truly are: challenges. When we look at the world with the understanding that G-d has planned every detail, we know that everything is posing for us. Every aspect of our lives is only there to afford of us the opportunity of accomplishing our G-dly mission.

The Torah – a book of instruction that guides our every step - relates the story of our forefather Jacob. As a young man, he flees from his brother Esau to the land of Charan, where he works for his wicked father in law Lavan for twenty years. During these years, Lavan tricks and deceives him at every step, terrorizing him in ways that should have made Jacobs life a misery. Yet, throughout his stay in Charan, Jacob’s spirits remain high, and he is not put down by Lavan’s deceit. Kabbalah explains that Jacob kept his joyful spirit by constantly singing the fifteen songs of elevation found in the book of Psalms.

Jacob held his composure reminding himself that he was suffering for a purpose. He realized that G-d had placed him in Charan to achieve lofty goals that he could not have accomplished had he remained immersed in his tent of Torah study back home. It was only through working as a shepherd and agonizing through Lavan’s torment that he could realize G-ds ultimate plan. Realizing this, Jacob did not suffer. His understanding of his true purpose brought about true happiness to the point that he was in constant song. He sang with joy and ecstasy where others would have cried in despair.

Being a jolly fellow is all about perspective. We have to look beyond the external layers of our experiences, and understand the true purpose of why they occurred. Each and every thing that happens in our lives occurs for a reason. G-d is placing us in a place or situation in order for us to elevate it. Even when things may look bleak, the truth is they are just waiting opportunities. When we see things for what they truly are, then we can become truly jolly fellows.