Richard’s new book, Reflections on Happiness: In a Broken and Chaotic World has arrived and can be purchased on Amazon, and locally at Seibels, Little Professor, Church Street Coffee & Books and our office.  Today’s blog is one of the essays found in the book.

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In an earlier essay, I briefly introduced one of the most celebrated psychologists in our world today, Dr. Martin Se­ligman. He teaches positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and is also the former president of the Ameri­can Psychological Association. His book Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being was especially helpful in my research.

Seligman believes that a main element in experiencing a life of happiness is to live a meaningful life. He says a “meaningful life consists in belonging to and serving some­thing that you believe is bigger than self.”

J.P. Moreland is an American philosopher who teaches at Talbot School of Theology. In addressing the issue of mean­ing, Moreland says: “We should see ourselves in light of a larger cause; ‘the outworking of God’s plan in history.’ We should be preoccupied with finding our role in His cause and playing it well.” Moreland says we should seek to become the kind of people who can skillfully make those around us better at living their lives.

What Moreland is explaining is that we find meaning when we make a positive difference in the lives of others, particularly if it makes a difference that lasts over time. A difference that is transformative.

I remember having coffee with a man I had not seen in quite some time. The first words out of his mouth were quite unexpected as he asked me, “What kind of problems are you trying to solve?” He obviously was not interested in small talk.

What he was really asking me was, “How are you mak­ing a difference in people’s lives?” Particularly when you look out into the world and see so many people who are strug­gling and are so unhappy. His question led to a really good conversation.

I think it is also important to remember that when we impact the lives of others, we never know who they may go out and influence. As the Pulitzer Prize historian Henry Adams puts it: “A teacher affects eternity; he never knows where his influence ends.”

When you impact the lives of others, it creates a ripple effect. You never know whose life you touch. Our actions have an immeasurable and far-reaching effect on others.

This is one of the main reasons I write books. I seek to influence people, not entertain them, and you never know whose hands a book may fall into.

Several years ago, I received an email from a farmer in Kansas. He lived in a farming community and had read my book, The True Measure of a Man. He and 35 men in his church were reading it and discussing a chapter each week. He was wondering when they got to the final chapter if I would be willing to do a live stream and discuss the book with them. I was thrilled to do it, and from their response, the contents of the book seemed to be impactful. I had a real sense of fulfillment when we were finished.

As I look back on this, I am still not sure how these farmers in Kansas got a copy of the book. I am hopeful that they recommended it to others or gave it to other men as a gift. Henry Adams was right: when you invest your life into the lives of others, you never know where your influence will end. I believe this is a major component in living a meaning­ful life.

This reminds me of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. The great takeaway from this movie is that one life influences an­other life, and then that life influences another, and so on.

In the movie, an angel named Clarence is attempting to prove to George Bailey how significant his life has been. He does this by showing George what life would have been like in Bedford Falls if George had never existed.

In a very powerful scene, the angel Clarence shows George the grave of his brother Harry. The tombstone re­veals that his brother Harry died as a young boy. George protested that it was not true, Harry did not drown that day, because George saved his life.

The words of Clarence the angel were haunting.

CLARENCE: “Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.”

GEORGE: “That’s a lie! Harry Bailey went to war. He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!”

CLARENCE: “Every man on that transport died. Harry was not there to save them because you weren’t there to save Harry.”

This is how life works. As my good friend Jerry Leachman says, “Life is a generational team effort.”

So, what are we doing with our lives? Are we making a difference in others that will last over time? Are we investing in endeavors that will live on after we are gone?

This is not only the path that leads to a meaningful life but also a major component of finding happiness. God made the human heart to give, and we find the greatest joy and happiness in this life when we give.

Richard E Simmons III is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership and a best-selling author. Richard’s new book, Reflections on Happiness: In a Broken and Chaotic World has arrived and can be purchased on Amazon, and locally at Seibels, Little Professor, Church Street Coffee & Books and our office.