“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.
S estock says
Thank you Mary. Nicest message I have ever received and sure needed to be reminded to make happy happen for me . Love
Kenia Calvo says
Great post, mental attitude attributes a great deal of what influences overall mood however; also take into account the 4 things that affect our dopamine levels:
1. Quality sleep
2. Exposing ourselves to morning sunlight
3. Exercise/movement
4. Nutrition
Diane says
I agree that happiness is a coice – to a point. There can be times in one’s life when great adversity, illness, or significant trauma can make being happy “impossible”. I know, I’ve been there. Many have not. I believe you need to hit bottom to fully appreciate that happiness is not necessarily always a choice. It’s near impossible to be happy when you have no clue whst is wrong with you, you cannot function, and you expect you will die before you ever recover.
Lisa says
Yes, I totally agree wholeheartedly with you on this, Diane.
Mahesh says
Happiness is not being unhappy in spite of the circumstances.I am too dull witted to be unhappy and I never feel or see or recognise any acts of perceived unkindness from others.This is the most intellegent thing one can do for one self.
Patrick O'Keeffe says
Nice Post. I disagree with the poster who says its all about helping and thinking of others, while that is a noble thing to do…..and you covered all that stuff anyway in the “Golden Rule” link in “Treat others well”.
Happiness is actually our true state and true nature…..its what we are in essence. Its always there like a sky is always there behind the clouds. It was there the day you we born and will be there until the day you die. We don’t have to help others, or do 12 things to gain or acheive what we already are. All we need to do is to see things clearly and that is not a “doing” or “effort” per say. It is to simply stop resisting our current moment to moment experience and say yes to everything or to say Yes to life. Its when we say “No” or “Resist” our current experience or Life that we create suffering and unhappiness for ourselves…….or in essence, we cover our sky with clouds. But the sky is still always there and has never gone away. We just go back accepting “what is” again and the clouds will disappear again.
Kimmy says
I think the “Golden Rule” is the perfect way to do this. This was a very good article and I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for posting it!
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zianezoulikha says
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djamila_st says
It is a very heart toughing poem as it is referring to those little children who don’t have anywhere to go and are unable