Can we really choose happiness?
by Karin Ludvigsen Filed under Healing, Life Skills, Meaning of life, Personal Growth, Positive thinking, joy of living
No matter what life brings you, you can make a choice at how you want to see it.
Choose happiness!
Make a choice each day; choose to be happy with what comes and what has gone. There are plenty of things to rejoice about.
Do not forget the little things: Your smiling colleague. The little girl who babbles with her mother. The wind flying through your hair, making you feel like you are living. Every little thing like this is happiness smiling your way.
We want to see all of the big happy things, but remember to see all these little things; the ones we barely notice in our everyday lives.
Look around you and see the world as if you’ve never seen it before. Put the “happy goggles” on. Look at the people around you, look at the nature, look at the wildlife, look at the surroundings, see how wonderful it all is.
Can you do it?
Try!
Are you feeling stupid?
Try again!
Did you find something?
Do you smile a little bit now?
You are on the right track!
The first step is not the most difficult step, it is simply the first.
Now think of three things that made you smile or left you feeling happy today.
Write them down.
Now look at them again and recall the emotion you gained from each thing.
Now remember the three things that made you happy yesterday.
Write them down.
Look at them again and recall the emotions individually.
Then think about three things that you felt happy about during the last week.
Write them down.
Look at them again and recall the emotions you felt from them individually.
Can you see the pattern? 
)
It works – try it and you will see. If you do this exercise over and over again for a couple of days, you will not be satisfied with just three things. You recall even more.
When you begin, it may be difficult to find three things, but suddenly it dawns on you, that the positive experiences are queuing up on you.
You attract them and you choose to see them. Indeed, they are present all of the time, but you must choose to see them )
Why are we doing this?
The principle is that your happiness is a choice, and you can turn it on, even off, whenever you please, but you might need to practise at first. The amazing thing is that the more you choose to turn on your happiness-switch, the easier it gets.
Now, you might be left thinking: “All the terrible things happen to me, all the time!”
I know – I’ve been there!! But yet again, it is about how you handle it.
People get sick and other traumatic things happen, but you can choose how you want to move forward.
Take life in your own hands and do not let others choose your path. There will always be situations that you can not change. However, you can change how you see them, and you can change what you learn from them.
I know it might seem difficult, but believe in yourself – it can be done!
Find a bright spot, hold on to it, and don’t let it slip away from you. Find the next bright spot, see the small pleasures and make sure to really feel it in your heart. Feel it in your soul.
Laugh all that you can, see all the funny movies you love, or the ones you haven’t seen yet, and laugh. Put your pain behind you and choose life and happiness.
I have been going down this path, and I truly believe that you can do the same!
Let us choose happiness!
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Very true Karin. Its all about attitude, and life does not wait for you to get up when you have fallen. We all get sick, we all make mistakes, and we all die, yet we are so much more than any or all of this, so seeing through those lens of possibility will only make us smile more when we do pass away. And very true is the fact is that the most priceless of things are those that cost us nothing. Yet finding true happiness is durably only when we have truly enriched what is within that it transcends outwards, and then our life that we lead in this world.
I read this old book (1970s) “A matter of Choice”..cant seem to remember the author but in similar lines to your essay saying whatever moods we wish ourselves to be – it is a matter of choice. Makes a lot of sense to choose to be happy at possible times by finding joy in the small things things around instead of choosing to wait for an ideal situation to be happy….All a matter of choice..
Dannyboy and Francis I agree completely. My article shows in very easy steps, how you can turn your focus to be positive and to be happy.
And Francis, I’m sure you have seen the same statement in different words elsewhere. This is not new stuff, but a simple logic. But sometimes we have to be reminded. My choice has been made, and I want to share with as many people as posible
Choose wisely and make the best of your life
- karin
I believe that we always have the ability to choose happiness. I also believe it is human nature to choose the opposite; “Misery Loves Company” is so true. I have taught myself and take every chance available to choose happiness. The statement I use to avoid joining in Miseries Company is “In a Perfect world……” Try it and fill in the blanks. This helps to reset your thinking pattern. A logical person understands that there is no such thing and will learn to accept and adapt to a situation this builds contentment. A content person will look on the bright side and choose happiness. A little prayer now and again doesn’t hurt either!!! God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
If it were not possible to decide to be happy, then it would not be an obligation to Orthodox Jews as one of their 613 responsibilities.