Better Health Better You | Why Happiness is a choice
John was ninety-two years old and blind, but he was just as sharp as could be when his wife, Eleanor, went to be with the Lord. He didn’t feel he should live alone, so John decided to move into a nice seniors’ home. On the morning of the move, he was up and fully dressed by 8:00 a.m. As always, the elderly gentleman looked impeccable, with his hair perfectly combed and his face neatly shaven. A cab picked him up and took him to the seniors’ home.
John arrived early, as was his habit, and waited more than an hour before a young aide, Melinda, came in to show him his new room. As John maneuvered his walker through the hallways, Melinda described his room in great detail. She said sunlight came in through a big window and that there was a comfortable couch and a nice desk area.
Right in the middle of her description, John interrupted her and said, ‘I love it, I love it, I love it.’ Miranda laughed and said, ‘Sir, we’re not there yet, You haven’t seen it. Hold on just a minute and I’ll show it to you.’ John said, ‘No, you don’t have to show it to me. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it depends on how my mind is arranged. Happiness is something you decide ahead of time.’
As wise old John understood, happiness is a choice. When you wake up in the morning you can choose what kind of day you want to have. You can choose to me in a good mood, or you can choose to be in a bad mood.
CHOOSE HAPPINESS – My purpose in writing this book is to help you to arrange your mind so that you choose happiness each and every day. Whatever challenges you may face, whatever circumstances are weighing you down, you can choose your response. How you live your life is totally up to you. It’s not dependent on your circumstances. It’s dependent on your choices. Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are as happy as they’ve decided to be.”
from Joel Osteen, Every Day a Friday – How to be Happier 7 Days a Week, Faith Words, Hachette Book Group, New York, 2011, pp. 3-4.
Happiness Is a Choice: The Power of Positive Thinking
Happiness is a choice. This simple statement holds a profound truth that has the potential to transform our lives. In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, it can be easy to fall into the trap of negativity and despair. However, by recognizing that happiness is a choice, we can empower ourselves to cultivate a positive mindset and embrace a more fulfilling and joyful existence.
The concept of happiness as a choice is rooted in the philosophy of positive thinking. Positive thinking is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation and maintaining an optimistic outlook. It involves consciously shifting our perspective from negative to positive and choosing to see the world through a lens of gratitude, hope and resilience.
One of the key principles of positive thinking is the belief that our thoughts and attitudes have a direct impact on our emotions and experiences. When we choose to adopt a positive mindset, we are able to reframe our thoughts and approach life’s challenges with a sense of possibility and opportunity. This in turn allows us to experience greater joy, contentment and fulfillment.
It’s important to note that choosing happiness does not mean ignoring or denying the existence of negative emotions or difficult circumstances. Instead, it involves acknowledging the presence of these challenges while actively seeking out the silver linings and blessings that can be found in every situation. By choosing to focus on the positive aspects of our lives, we can cultivate a sense of resilience and inner strength that enables us to navigate adversity with grace and optimism.
In addition to enhancing our emotional well-being, the choice to pursue happiness has been shown to have a wide range of benefits for our physical health. Research has demonstrated that positive thinking can lead to lower levels of stress, reduced risk of chronic diseases and improved overall well-being. By cultivating a positive mindset, we can boost our immune system, increase our longevity and enhance our overall quality of life.
So, how can we actively choose happiness in our daily lives? The first step is to cultivate a sense of mindfulness and self-awareness. By paying attention to our thoughts and emotions, we can identify patterns of negativity and self-limiting beliefs that may be holding us back from experiencing true happiness. Once we are able to recognize these patterns, we can begin to challenge and reframe them, replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations and gratitude.
Another important aspect of choosing happiness is practicing self-care and nurturing our emotional well-being. This can involve engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies and interests and taking care of our physical health through exercise and proper nutrition. By prioritizing our own happiness and well-being we can create a positive ripple effect that extends to those around us.
In addition to individual efforts, choosing happiness can also be supported by creating a positive and uplifting environment. Surrounding ourselves with supportive and positive people, seeking out inspirational and uplifting content and engaging in acts of kindness and compassion can all contribute to a more positive and joyful mindset.
Ultimately, the choice to pursue happiness is a deeply personal and empowering decision. By recognizing that happiness is a choice, we can take ownership of our emotional well-being and actively cultivate a more positive and fulfilling life. Through the practice of positive thinking, self-care and creating a supportive environment, we can unlock the transformative power of happiness and embrace a life filled with joy, gratitude and resilience. So, let’s make the choice to pursue happiness and create a brighter, more fulfilling future for ourselves and those around us.
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Grant Rayner
An interested post , it inspires alot of confidence after I’ve read the article. the article is written well and the content is played out neatly with easy to read text and the background is pleasing . i enjoyed this content as i read the story posted.leaves me with much confidence a good quality content . thank you so much for sharing
Hello Shafiq and thank you for your comments. Happiness is indeed a choice we make at the start of each and every day. It sets the tone for all that follows! Thanks again for commenting and I hope you’re having a wonderful day!
Grant
Hello that is such a great point that happiness is a choice. This world has plenty of reasons to unhappy and plenty of reasons to be happy. It’s all about how you look at it. It’s so easy to compare yourself with others feel down about what you may not have. But there are people living in war zones prisons and even worse so it’s good for you celebrate the good things in life.
Absolutely Jake. It’s easy to take things for granted especially the small things but you are absolutely right, you don’t have to look too far to find someone whose circumstances are hard.