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I know I am happy when I feel my soul glow and my body relax. It is almost as if happiness has washed over me and completely saturated all the anger that inhibits my bones. I feel like this not very often these days, but when I do I know the universe is showing me everything can be ok if I allow it to be.
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I know this is gonna sound a bit strange, but I feel like life communicates with us nonstop, and happiness is its way of giving us a thumbs up in the direction we're going in. Perhaps you should revert back to the simplicity of childhood and think exactly what you wanted to be when you would grow up. For some reason, children always seem to know what they truly want. Other than that, you can trick your brain into being happy....if you smile more it triggers your brain to release the actual chemicals that make you happy. laughing too
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If you think happy and positive thoughts you will usually become a happy and positive person. You control your thoughts so for the most part, happiness is a choice.
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Happiness is a choice. That's something that I've struggled with lately, but I've found that if I can make myself busy with things that I like, and things that improve the quality of my life, then I become happier.
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Happiness is a choice. That's something that I've struggled with lately, but I've found that if I can make myself busy with things that I like, and things that improve the quality of my life, then I become happier.
It also helps to focus on things that make us happy. Our mind is like a stage, where there can be only one actor at a time. If we focus on the good things, our mood is better. But when we don't keep our mind occupied, dark thoughts can often enter and give us negative feelings. We must keep ourselves busy with the good, and that way, we stay happy.
If you feel that something is still missing, broaden your horizon. Try new things. Good things, make memories that you'll cherish later on. Keep a long-term perspective on it. Think, "Will I be happy about this later on, or will I regret it?" If you'll regret it, stay away from it. If you'll be happy about it, go for it.
I have spoken.
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It takes several things. First and formost: junk in, junk out, so its guiding your thoughts and affirmations to provide happiness and in turn the situations that bring happiness come more often (think of it as energy, even just nonverbal communication - the world sees it and reacts). The other thing - not fuming over what you don't have and also seeing the 'pain gaps' between what you have vs. what you wish you had or wish you were and doing everything possible to bring your expectations down to your relaxed potential. Habits and adjustment are critical here.
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Happiness IS a choice, but if you look for happiness where others tell you to look for it, it probably won't work for you. I don't think that your methods of achieving happiness would work for me. In fact, I know they wont. They sound like the opposite of what gives me happiness.
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Happiness IS a choice, but if you look for happiness where others tell you to look for it, it probably won't work for you. I don't think that your methods of achieving happiness would work for me. In fact, I know they wont. They sound like the opposite of what gives me happiness.
Happiness does not come from being outward oriented. It comes by being inward oriented. Doing things and assuming responsiblities that others tell you that you SHOULD do and assume is a form of servitude (slavery) that undermines your own potential and self-respect. One with inadequate self-respect does not know what happiness means or how to achieve it.
Nothing is outside of your control. But to see change, you must be willing to change. If you like being controlled, (even by social morees) then your happiness will be serverly limited. When you are willing to taste freedom, then what you call a responsibiliy will no longer be a responsibility, and you will do what you know you want to be doing for reasons that you do not now understand.
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Happiness is usually a choice. Sometimes, there is a choice to work towards future happiness. Occasionally, happiness is an impossibility. As usual in this world, nothing is black and white.
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I had three pizza lunchables for lunch today. Some say that's a bad choice (very few I must add), but could a bad choice be a choice to be happy?
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Happiness is not getting what you want. Happiness is accepting what you have. - some movie.
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Yes, and no. I do think that some people choose to wallow in misery when they could choose to be more positive and count their blessings.
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Yes, and no. I do think that some people choose to wallow in misery when they could choose to be more positive and count their blessings.
On the other hand... I know someone who has struggled with debilitating depression all her life, probably stemming from when she was severely abused as a child. I know many people with mental illnesses of various sorts, and though that doesn't necessarily mean they CAN'T be happy (of course they can), it gets rough when you are inexplicably nervous and tense all the time, or socially awkward (I've had social phobia all my life so far). You can still try to make the best of your life, of course, and seek professional help, but I don't think anyone should simply blame the victim for not "choosing happiness". It's not always so simple.
Ultimately, I think what choosing happiness really means is taking steps towards feeling better about your life, every day. If you are unhappy, find out why and while you may not be able to make everything sunshine and rainbows right away, you can begin to move your life toward a place that is ultimately happier.
I suppose that's just common sense, but... there's my two cents haha.
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Anyone can choose to be happy but some people are better at it than others, like some people have more musical talent than others. Genetics and upbringing are important but everyone is born with some capacity for happiness.
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This is such a hard question to really answer because it can go so many ways. In a way it's a choice because you can CHOOSE to be happy every day and not let people or things get in your way. However, there are times, when things "just happen", like @Griz said, and you can't just be happy and that's okay. We need to remember we can't always find happiness everywhere and in every second. (I wish we could!) We just need to take whatever we can, big or small, and find the happiness in that.
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This is such a hard question to really answer because it can go so many ways. In a way it's a choice because you can CHOOSE to be happy every day and not let people or things get in your way. However, there are times, when things "just happen", like @Griz said, and you can't just be happy and that's okay. We need to remember we can't always find happiness everywhere and in every second. (I wish we could!) We just need to take whatever we can, big or small, and find the happiness in that.
I absolutely believe in this quote from a book I'm currently reading, maybe it will be helpful.
“Do not apologize for crying. Without this emotion, we are only robots.”
? Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
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Happiness is more a reaction than a choice. Things "just happen" -- and our response is either positive (happy) or negative (sadness, unhappiness etc). There's a kind of automatic interaction between outside stimuli and our current state of mind. Something that made us happy a while ago, can now annoy us -- or elicit no response. The outside stimuli is most certainly beyond our control, making it a kind of wild roller-coaster ride. And often we lack the discipline or desire to control our moods. When was the last time you just turned off a sultry or angry state?
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Happiness is more a reaction than a choice. Things "just happen" -- and our response is either positive (happy) or negative (sadness, unhappiness etc). There's a kind of automatic interaction between outside stimuli and our current state of mind. Something that made us happy a while ago, can now annoy us -- or elicit no response. The outside stimuli is most certainly beyond our control, making it a kind of wild roller-coaster ride. And often we lack the discipline or desire to control our moods. When was the last time you just turned off a sultry or angry state?
I maintain that "joy" is the conscious choice in the state of one's internal kingdom. It can result in more of the "happiness reaction".
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People are usually about as happy as they decide to be. While we can all be overwhelmed by life at times, the way you respond to a situation is much more important than the situation itself.
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People are usually about as happy as they decide to be. While we can all be overwhelmed by life at times, the way you respond to a situation is much more important than the situation itself.
I deal with a lot of stressful situations at my job, and I find that it's easiest to be happy if you keep your cool, take control of the situation, prioritize, and ask for help when you need it.
The only person responsible for your happiness is you.
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Yes I definitely believe happiness is a choice !
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Yes I definitely believe happiness is a choice !
I have faced a fair share of tragedy and adversity through my 45 years on this planet. And I have felt knocked to my core. I choose to embrace all feelings through these rough patches including happiness. I am seeking It every day, no matter the size, the shape it arrives in or the circumstance I'm in because I, whole heartly acknowledge that it is there for my taking and to share.
I was recently laid off. I am the sole provider, have a child to raise and with very little resources. I have applied for countless jobs with no call backs. I have led a responsible life doing the best I can for myself and service to others. There is no crystal ball to know what lies ahead but I do know that every second of the day I get a chance to change my thoughts and make a choice. And this opportunity is there for each and everyone of us. I do not have all the answers as I am still very much growing in my journey but I want to (and do) chose happiness in the darkest, drab and brightest places. So yes, absolutely YES it's a CHOICE! I hope you find a piece of it every day!
<3
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Here's my experience--I've had depression. My daughter was diagnosed with autism 6 years ago. My beloved grandmother died last year. I have chronic migraines. I accidentally ran over my cat. Bad things happen to all of us. I've made a point to really feel my negative feelings in the moment (fear, guilt, sadness, pain, numbness) because when I don't it only prolongs the unhappiness. I have a short, intense pity party. Sometimes I pray to God for help. And THEN I choose happiness.
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Here's my experience--I've had depression. My daughter was diagnosed with autism 6 years ago. My beloved grandmother died last year. I have chronic migraines. I accidentally ran over my cat. Bad things happen to all of us. I've made a point to really feel my negative feelings in the moment (fear, guilt, sadness, pain, numbness) because when I don't it only prolongs the unhappiness. I have a short, intense pity party. Sometimes I pray to God for help. And THEN I choose happiness.
I start by seeking out all the small joys that are real FOR ME--a hot shower, looking at my daughter's sweet face, watching something on TV that makes me laugh, getting a nice long hug from my husband, listening to music and dancing while I make dinner. I get help with the problems I can't handle on my own (various therapies for my daughter, a good neurologist for the migraines.) I count my blessings which are many.
I agree with Laurea, when you say you do things that "should contribute to happiness" it sounds like you might be listening too much to other people's prescription for happiness and less to your inner voice about what would make you happy. Being a mom, I did all the things I thought I was supposed to do and it took years before I realized that it actually contributed to my depression. I wasn't listening to my inner voice. It's okay to do things that are just for you that might seem frivolous. The Dalai Lama said in his book The Art of Happiness that "the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness" and that's different for everyone. I lovingly say to you go find YOUR happiness.
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Happiness is most definitely not a choice. Have a hormonal imbalance causing depression? Choose happiness. Whole family killed and possessions destroyed in a hurricane? Choose happiness. Dying of starvation and your brain is running on primitive survival skills alone? Choose happiness.
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Happiness is most definitely not a choice. Have a hormonal imbalance causing depression? Choose happiness. Whole family killed and possessions destroyed in a hurricane? Choose happiness. Dying of starvation and your brain is running on primitive survival skills alone? Choose happiness.
So no, sorry to disappoint but happiness is not a choice. And if my answer upsets you, don't worry just be happy.
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