“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” —Abraham Lincoln
Is happiness a choice? Yes! Many happy people realize happiness is a choice and it’s up to them to intentionally choose it every single day.
Happy people are not held hostage by their circumstances and they do not seek happiness in people or possessions.
They understand that when we stop chasing the world’s definition of happiness, we begin to see the decision to experience happiness has been right in front of us all along. Research in the field of positive psychology continues to reinforce this understanding.
But simply knowing that happiness is a choice is not enough. Fully experiencing it still requires a conscious decision to choose happiness each day. How then might each of us begin to experience this joy?
How to Choose Happiness Today
Embrace one new action item, practice all of them, or simply use them as inspiration to discover your own. Here are 12 ways to choose happiness today:
1. Count your blessings. Happy people choose to focus on the positive aspects of life rather than the negative. They set their minds on specific reasons to be grateful. They express it when possible. And they quickly discover there is always, always, something to be grateful for.
2. Carry a smile. A smile is a wonderful beautifier. But more than that, studies indicate that making an emotion-filled face carries influence over the feelings processed by the brain. Our facial expression can influence our brain in just the same way our brains influence our face. In other words, you can actually program yourself to experience happiness by choosing to smile. Not to mention, all the pretty smiles you’ll receive in return for flashing yours is also guaranteed to increase your happiness level.
3. Speak daily affirmation into your life. Affirmations are positive thoughts accompanied with affirmative beliefs and personal statements of truth. They are recited in the first person, present tense (“I am…”). Affirmations used daily can release stress, build confidence, and improve outlook. For maximum effectiveness, affirmations should be chosen carefully, be based in truth, and address current needs. Here is a list of 100 daily affirmations to help you get started.
4. Wake up on your terms. Most of us have alarm clocks programmed because of the expectations of others: a workplace, a school, or a waking child. That’s probably not going to change. But that doesn’t mean we have to lose control over our mornings in the process. Wake up just a little bit early and establish an empowering, meaningful, morning routine. Start each day on your terms. The next 23 hours will thank you for it.
5. Hold back a complaint. The next time you want to lash out in verbal complaint towards a person, a situation, or yourself, don’t. Instead, humbly keep it to yourself. You’ll likely diffuse an unhealthy, unhappy environment. But more than that, you’ll experience joy by choosing peace in a difficult situation.
6. Practice one life-improving discipline. There is happiness and fulfillment to be found in personal growth. To know that you have intentionally devoted time and energy to personal improvement is one of the most satisfying feelings you’ll ever experience. Embrace and practice at least one act of self-discipline each day. This could be exercise, budgeting, or guided-learning… whatever your life needs today to continue growing. Find it. Practice it. Celebrate it.
7. Use your strengths. Each of us have natural talents, strengths, and abilities. And when we use them effectively, we feel alive and comfortable in our skin. They help us find joy in our being and happiness in our design. So embrace your strengths and choose to operate within your giftedness each day. If you need to find this outlet outside your employment, by all means, find this outlet.
8. Accomplish one important task. Because happy people choose happiness, they take control over their lives. They don’t make decisions based on a need to pursue joy. Instead, they operate out of the satisfaction they have already chosen. They realize there are demands on their time, helpful pursuits to accomplish, and important contributions to make to the world around them. Choose one important task that you can accomplish each day. And find joy in your contribution.
9. Eat a healthy meal/snack. We are spiritual, emotional, and mental beings. We are also physical bodies. Our lives cannot be wholly separated into its parts. As a result, one aspect always influences the others. For example, our physical bodies will always have impact over our spiritual and emotional well-being. Therefore, caring for our physical well-being can have significant benefit for our emotional standing. One simple action to choose happiness today is to eat healthy foods. Your physical body will thank you… and so will your emotional well-being.
10. Treat others well. Everyone wants to be treated kindly. But more than that, deep down, we also want to treat others with the same respect that we would like given to us. Treat everyone you meet with kindness, patience, and grace. The Golden Rule is a powerful standard. It benefits the receiver. But also brings growing satisfaction in yourself as you seek to treat others as you would like to be treated.
11. Meditate. Find time alone in solitude. As our world increases in speed and noise, the ability to withdraw becomes even more essential. Studies confirm the importance and life-giving benefits of meditation. So take time to make time. And use meditation to search inward, connect spiritually, and improve your happiness today.
12. Search for benefit in your pain. This life can be difficult. Nobody escapes without pain. At some point—in some way—we all encounter it. When you do, remind yourself again that the trials may be difficult, but they will pass. And search deep to find meaning in the pain. Choose to look for the benefits that can be found in your trial. At the very least, perseverance is being built. And most likely, an ability to comfort others in their pain is also being developed.
Go today. Choose joy and be happy. That will make two of us.
Tina Downey says
Very well put. I just recently had a spiritual awakening regarding who is in control of my life, and it’s God. Surrendering to His will has brought me peace. I suffer from chronic illnesses, and I’ve been letting them get me down and have been arguing with God about why I have to go through these trials. It’s for my own good. To grow me and mold me and make me who He wants me to be. Your steps as outlined above go right along with some important decisions I’ve made just this last week. I need to choose contentment. I need to hold back the negative, think about the positive, and I most definitely need to keep moving. Being sick and on the sidelines has made me feel really useless, but there ARE things I can accomplish on those days when I can’t move much. You’ve sparked several ideas.
Found your blog through a dear friend who pm’d me on fb about this post. I’ve been blogging for almost five years and just today I got the news that I sold my first short story! Yippee!
Tina @ Life is Good
DDA says
So you’re essentially saying that living is about not striving, being a doormat, and letting others walk all over you? I would say complaints are normal, though the method in expressing it is key.
Suzanne says
This list is full of good advice. I am trying to maintain a surrender to God/be content with where I am attitude. Hard to do when my complaining SO poke holes in it. I especially like carry a smile and hold back a complaint.
Edwin says
Great article, thanks!
Chris says
All the research from ‘postive psychology’ would seem to support these ideas. We can do things that make us happy or can do things that make us suffer. But, and this is my one reservation: we should beware chasing after happiness which then just becomes another gaol and another burden. Flourishing is the by product of our committement to out values and our actions. Also, of all the ones listed by Joshua I would suggest that “graitude’ and “meditation” (or mindfulness) are key beacuse they involve acceptance of what is (everything is the best) rather than some achievment designed to make us happy. This blog is new to me but I love it. Thanks Joshua.
Adventurous Andrea says
Having a morning routine (which includes many of these things) is such a great way to frame one’s day!
Marya says
To be able to be happy is a blessing and it should be natural. Healthy living and having a good nature and a bit of luck make us naturally happy and tranquil.
Terry Hadaway says
Great advice, Joshua. These actions also lead to our being more productive and creative. If I could teach people how to do this, they would work through the process of becoming writers much faster than they do now. The opposites of these attitudes often interfere with the creative process and keep people frustrated.
These attitudes will make it so much easier for people to express themselves through writing.
You can learn more about the online writing course at http://wp.me/P36il6-gL.
website says
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you, However I am having troubles with your
RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe to it.
Is there anybody else having similar RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution
will you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Crystal says
I always enjoy reading your posts! Thank you for helping us change our family and lifestyle.
Blessings to you today!