“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.
Kate Atkin says
I’ve just seen your article on Action for Happiness’ Facebook page. Some really sound ideas, thank you.
One thing some people find difficult is to understand their own strengths… so your suggestion of “using your strengths” might not be that easy. I came across the VIA Character Strengths (initially through a link from Martin Seligman’s Authentic Happiness website). Here’s a direct link if anyone wants to discover their strengths through an online questionnaire:
http://www.viacharacter.org/
Carol Preibis says
Hello Joshua, It’s something of a coincidence that one of my latest blog posts is quite similar to yours. Many of the “12 Intentional Actions to Choose Happiness” match up with my “Concrete Suggestions for How to Achieve Happiness.” My post also talks about positive psychology and what the research offers.
I enjoyed your post, and am grateful for your suggestions,
I’d love to have you and any of your visitors read and comment on my post:
http://www.ahhthesimplelife.com/happiness-tos/
David J. Singer says
Beautiful list. Thanks so much for sharing.
Meg says
Thank you. What a great post.
I would like to recommend to others the practice of keeping a gratitude journal; One day every week write down (or record in some other way) seven things that you are grateful for that week. Make a commitment to do this for one year.
Apparently once a week works better than every day because you spend all week looking for reasons to be grateful and remembering them.
I used a digital camera and posted seven photos to facebook every Sunday along with a short comment.
When I started this felt a bit trite and silly but after one year my thinking, my behaviour and my level of satisfaction with my life had all completely changed.
I am now battling breast cancer.
I am happy and grateful every single day.
Ruth says
Keep battling x Your story inspired me
BrownVagabonder says
I love all the ideas you’ve presented in this post, especially the meditation. I have been meditating for the past 2 years and it is the one thing that affects my mood the most. I can instantly tell if I have meditated that day depending on the way I perceive the world, and the way I perceive myself. I’m more positive, and content on those days that I begin with a 15 minutes sit-down with myself. Especially now that I’m travelling and moving around all the time (driving down to South America from Toronto in a 1998 Honda Civic), I need it more. Otherwise my partner Thenix has to deal with the crazy side of me.
Michelle says
Very good post and useful ideas.
Vincent says
I’m so glad I started treating other people well. I used to have a complete disregard for others’ feelings. After I shifted and became more intentional about making sure others are happy, I feel much more content myself.
Katrina Tholen says
Good ideas! I am going to try some of these today. I am trying to find ways to be positive with chronic illness and pain, so I can teach my children to live in joy. I think you would be proud of me. I now have a lot more stuff in my donate box than cluttering up my home. I found your site because I was looking to minimize so I can more effectively use my good days with m y children rather than clean. Thank you!
Lynne says
This is just what I needed this morning.. I have been super down with my life lately, and I googled “How to be happy” this weekend.
Thank you!
HappinessSavouredHot says
The wonderful thing about these habits you recommend is that once you work on them, they gradually become automatic. They turn into your “natural tendency”. And then you are a happy person! :-)
Christy King says
Excellent point – and for me, at least, if something’s NOT a habit I won’t do it for long. Makes these tips super-useful.
Katie O'Brien | Life Coach for Moms says
Great point! It all starts with the desire to change, then a little effort … and then one day it will seem effortless :)
Anirudh says
Very very good article. Thanks a lot! You have made a difference in my life.
ekpen omolara says
Great, waohh. So satisfying
Bob Van Leeuwen says
YES ! KISS !
@Lynne @Meg – @Brown: Every Morning !
IT is habit forming!