"Most folks are about as happy as
they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln
Happiness is a big topic these days. Even national television is starting to bring it up in their newscasts. How cool is that? Of course the danger of that is that all the people who aren’t into it will choose this opportunity to complain about it. Oh well, too bad for them. But, that’s exactly the point, isn’t’ it?
To be happy isn’t something that happens by magic, like one day we wake up and poof! There it is, we are happy. Being happy is a decision we make, it is a commitment to ourselves. It is an attitude we choose, to love ourselves enough to hold that feeling of contentment and happiness tenderly, sacredly in our hearts, no matter what, regardless of what our environment brings us. Easier said than done, of course. Is it worth the effort? Definitely.
We sometimes let our thinking go into the “when I have this or that, or when I make that much money, then I’ll be happy. The truth is that this kind of thinking doesn’t work. Why? Two reasons come to my mind immediately: 1. Being happy doesn’t depend on our outside circumstances, it’s all about our inner experience. 2. Always putting happiness into the future keeps attracting “I’ll be happy when …” feelings, so we just never get there.
You don’t like your circumstances? Then make all the changes you need. Take full responsibility for your life and your happiness. If you need help to make these changes, then get it. Can’t make any changes right now? Well, it’s even more of a reason to choose the attitude of happiness now; acceptance will be the key for you. Being unhappy about something you can’t change is a trap to be unloving to yourself. So choose to be happy, keeping in mind that as soon as you can make a change in your circumstances, you will.
Coaching Question: How happy do I choose to be today and what can I do to improve on that? This week, I want to encourage you to focus on all the good in your life and the happiness that it brings to your heart. The more you do that, the faster all the things that aren’t so great in your life will start shifting to match what you feel and the energy you project. Not sure this is true? Well, give it a chance and watch the miracles start happening in your life!
Resources, tools, and discussion for men and women in recovery from addictions, wanting to expand their personal, professional, and/or business growth.
• Monday, March 10, 2008 - Happiness and Thankfulness