Yes, you read that right. We choose to be happy! We don’t wait for happiness to just happen. We need to choose that state. But we don’t do it because we think that is not natural. You can’t just choose to be happy. Happiness has to come to you, doesn’t it? It needs something to happen so that I can feel happy. I can’t just be happy without anything happening because that is just fake.
That is how we feel on a daily basis. I once told my wife that I could feel happiness and a feeling of great joy by just using my thoughts alone. And she looked at me and said… ‘’Yeah! But isn’t that fake’’?
And that is how all of us feel. We have thought since we were kids that happiness should come from achieving the things that we desire. If we don’t get them, it means that we have no reason to be happy. And furthermore, we should maybe feel a little sad. Because that might push us to get the thing that we perceive will bring us happiness.
But that is a way of thinking that has brought more sadness in the world than anything else. That thought that you can only be happy when you achieve something or receive something that you desire brings only misery and heartache.
Think about it for a moment. Let’s say you’re in love with someone and they reciprocate that love back. You feel tremendous joy and exuberance that nothing can compare. And after a while, you break up. Because even if you are so in love, the relationship is extremely toxic. And you feel sad for a while but come to reason that it was for the best. And you sometimes think of them and how it was in the beginning. And you get this rush of happiness and joy. What just happened there?
The person is no longer in your life. But you just manufactured those feelings inside of you. On your own! Just by thinking about it. That means that you can evoke them anytime you desire. You can feel tremendous joy and happiness by just choosing to feel it. And not wait for something outside to trigger you into feeling happiness.
What I did was, when I stumbled upon this. Was to think of a time when I was truly and utterly happy. I remembered that feeling. And then I looked at what part of the body I felt. And then I repeated the feeling in my mind and tightened that body part. Which for me is the throat. And now whenever I want to feel happy, I activate it and I feel happy and joy and well-being.
But something else happened after that. By doing this daily I started to look at things differently. Only going outside and looking at the sky fills me with joy. Doing small stuff fills me with joy. I look at things with more kindness and warmth. I slowed down and stopped to smell the roses so to speak. And it’s a wonderful feeling to be in.
This does not mean I don’t have bad days. But they are more manageable. And they pass more quickly than before.
You originate happiness. It doesn’t just happen to you. You do it!
And if you understand this concept, you will bring something into your life that will change everything. The way you are now will get an upgrade so to speak. Life will begin to be filled with joy and exuberance every day. And in my book, that’s all worth it!
Thank you!