Freemason Wisdom: Benjamin Franklin On Happiness

"The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself."

~Benjamin Franklin

One thing that Benjamin Franklin seemed to understand was that happiness comes from within. He knew that even with virtually limitless freedom and liberty, there would always be those that would never find happiness. The same is true today.

We all know people that seem to have everything, and aren't happy. They seem to go through life looking for that one thing they need to make them happy--the perfect person, car, house, job. And when it comes along, they still aren't content, because it wasn't what they thought it was--it didn't bring them the happiness they expected. So they keep searching for that one thing they need . . .

Franklin was correct. Happiness comes from within. In order to be happy, we have to know ourselves, and that involves seeing the truth about ourselves. Many of us spend more time worried about what other people think about us than what we think about ourselves. It's tough looking at ourselves warts and all. So instead of facing that truth, digging down into who we really are and what makes us tick, we spend our lives trying to fill the void that lack of understanding ourselves creates with things (and medications), none of which will ever make us happy.

Only when you can look at yourself, and accept yourself as you truly are, can you ever be truly happy.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason is the author of Famous American Freemasons: Volumes I & II where you'll find many other great stories about famous Freemasons.