is Happiness really a choice

“No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.” Barbara DeAngelis

This quote can remind us that at any time we can decide to change what we consistently think about – and – we can decide to change one or more behaviors towards the direction of experiencing “happiness.”  

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”  – Tom Bodett

Not many people are happy all of the time.  “Being happy” can have a variety of definitions and meanings.  One expression can include the level of joy a person is experiencing in any given moment.  Happiness may include being in a state of joy – or not experiencing joy.

Happiness is not a permanent state.  Some of us remember when something unexpected made us happy.  If you’re lucky you can experience happy feelings and at the same time accept that these feelings are fleeting.

For people who lean more toward Optimism (those who predominantly feel things are not that bad and feel things will get better) studies have shown they tend to be healthier.

Many people leaning in the direction of Pessimism (those who have a difficult time or refuse to see situations in a constructive light) are illustrated in these same studies as those who can become ill more often and can suffer illnesses longer.

A constructive viewpoint can be to become aware of and understand that life is not always about feeling happy or that only good things are going to happen.  This viewpoint can include the ability to accept the highs and lows of life as being just what it is – Life.  With this acceptance does not involve accepting things the way they are without challenging yourself to explore better situations or seeking goals in line with more personal success.

Some with constructive views have learned to take the challenges the lows may bring with it and over time find a way to discover opportunities that can benefit their life in the short or long term.

When we understand that outer things like changing our weight, success in our endeavors, great milestones, making a great income, having more money or finding the love of our life – no thing –– nothing external can make us permanently happy.  Contentment (which is more long term than fleeting happiness) is an internal work in progress.  It’s your thoughts, what you consistently think about and eventually an understanding that finding and appreciating that the essence of your individual, unique self is more than enough.

Partial Repost