Being happy is not a matter of what you are, or what you do or what you have. Being happy is a choice you have to make consciously. Happiness is not a consequence of external factors, happiness is the lenses through which you can choose to experience reality.
And all that it takes is precisely that: To choose. Only you have the power to do such thing, even in the face of all the circumstances that points you other way.
Every day we see persons with less that what we have: Less money, less opportunities, less love and affection, and in so many cases their physical circumstances are completely irrelevant to their emotional state. This is the most evident proof that happiness is a state of mind, and not a result of our physical achievements.
I am not encouraging you to forsake your goals and ambitions, but don’t believe that those goals by itself are going to make you happy. If you are looking for happiness in external circumstances, you will end up very disappointed.
Pursue your goals because you want to be better, to help others or to make a change in the world, but do it from a place of true joy and satisfaction, and not because you believe that it will fill the void.
Stop looking for happiness, because happiness is not something to get, but a choice to make.
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Very wise words. I enjoyed reading this 🙂 thank you.
I am glad to hear that! Thank YOU.
Love this post! It’s so very true, it really is a choice that comes from within.
Indeed Noor!
Beautiful post! There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way! – Buddha
Very accurate quote and so true Erika!
One of my mantras… 😉
Amazingly written and presented! In the end, it all about your outlook and perception.
Your perspective of happiness is very inspiring! Great post!
If you want you can check out mines
Thank you! I sure will!
Very insightful.
I am not sure that I agree that happiness is a choice. This is because I think happiness creeps up on you; you can suddenly feel overwhelmed with gladness by the quality of the day or with a feeling of love in the room, etc. I think the process to happiness is a choice – by this I mean you open yourself, you relax, and get ready to be filled with wonder and excitement and life.
You are absolutely right. I live with one of the happiest people I have ever met and through her I have learned HAPPINESS is truly a choice – a very conscience choice. It is not always easy to stay in that place of happiness but with some effort it is possible to get there. I have learned a lot from my friend and I notice that her family – daughters and grandchildren – do not always understand or appreciate her bubbliness but I want to tell you the days she does not display her happiness are hard days to get through in her presence. Thank you very much for your piece and I hope that all the happiness in your life infects all those around you with a smile. Love to you and yours. Mari
My life is like a big family dinner..it can be loud, it can be fun, it can be tense or sad..it’s a boisterous collection of fluctuating emotions not all of which are under my control. What I can control is the setting I create in the “dining room”..the color of the paint, the art, the lighting, the overall tone. It can be bright and cheery or dark and dreary. This choice not only affects the mood in the room, but also the type of people who are drawn to “visit” me.
Do you feel there is a difference between happiness, joy, and peace?
Very true. I think, to a certain extent, we can choose to be healthy as well as happy. Have you read “Choice Theory”?
I have not, but I will look for it! Thanks for sharing!
Very true words. It’s always upto us to make the choice of being happy. One should find happiness in everything they do no matter how hard the situation may get. This post is really inspiring! 🙂
It really is a choice! Thanks for the wise words. I cannot agree with you more.