Just about everything you do and everything that happens to you is because of choices you have made. I heard people who are grumpy, or irritated, or say they are having a bad day, explain that because of something that happened “make them feel this way”. That is crap! People who are grumpy, irritated, or having a bad day are because they choose to be. They can choose just as easily to be happy instead.
What makes me such an expert about choosing to be happy? I have been choosing to be happy most of my life. It is a conscious choice. I wake up every morning and immediately think about a reason to be happy. I may have some opportunity to do something new today. Sometimes I think about how something will happen to me today that I could not have expected (which happens every day for me). When I struggle to be happy, I think of the alternative to waking up this morning is. Because I woke up I have the choice to be happy.
It doesn’t matter who you are or what your life is like. You may be in prison, or going to a job you hate, or be traffic, or be hungry, or be in pain. Sure there are times to be grumpy, irritated, or be in a bad moment, but it doesn’t have to put you in a bad mood the rest of the day. After you get over yourself or your situation, you can choose to be happy. There is always someone who has it worse than you.
Our sixteenth president said it best when he said:
“Folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln
How you decide you feel, love someone, accept someone is your choice. Choose to be happy.
When do you choose to be happy when others choose otherwise?
Reminds me of choosing to say, “Good Morning, God!” vs. “Good God-morning.”
Hard to remember sometimes, eh? But, we have both had many lessons on why you should be thankful and expectant for each day, have we not?
Very true Shawn. As you know we should all expect difficulties in life. We try to remember to be thankful.