Happiness Won’t Grow Unless You Plant It
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Good gardeners choose the seeds they want to raise
If you were sad, and I told you happiness was a choice, you might scowl. My observation could sound condescending. Who, after all, am I to inform you it’s possible to choose happiness?
When life offers setbacks, though, I note I can torture myself with negative self-talk, go over difficulties verbally until I’m blue in the face, and hold grudges.
Or make the best of what’s before me, and veer toward happiness.
I choose positivity rather than plant the seed of anxiety or anger. An event might knock me off-guard, but I soon recognize I can steer my mood, and influence the situation, in one of two directions.
When saddening things happen, of course, you aren’t joyful, and nor should you be; that would be weird. But much of the time your life isn’t on the sharp edge of disaster. It’s fraught with little everyday problems, and you choose your reactions.
Will you torture yourself or let go? Will you veer toward happiness or dwell in disaster? Will you choose not to let discomfort and small slights get you down?
Everyday happiness is a choice. You get to decide your perspective; the way you view what happens. You need not pretend everything’s wonderful if it isn’t, but you can stop worsening difficulties and seek opportunities to tune into a lighter vibe.
Or, as radical as it sounds, you can accept misfortune has befallen you and find contentment in knowing you’re doing your best under the circumstances offered.
Resisting problems cuts like a knife, making them deeper. Accepting those you can’t change helps you move on when you’re ready.
What’s more, you’re not meant to swing from the chandeliers all the time.
Happiness isn’t a full-time job, just an inside, part-time one.
You meet a gamut of other emotions. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have any sensation other than joy to compare with happiness, nor would it be so prized.
Everyone puts a big price on whatever’s rare — and that should give you a clue about happiness. Life is full of contrast and joy is often fleeting.
The more you set your sights on positivity the more happiness you’ll meet. You perceive events based on your attitude. If you’re pessimistic, plenty of situations will seem upsetting to you.
Focusing on positivity will set you on course for happiness, yet, you still have to decide to be happy. It’s no good smothering yourself in buckets of joy if, underneath it all, you hold resentment and misery.
Why not choose happiness? Recognize you can be content, if not joyful, and let go of negative self-talk and verbal condemnations.
Copyright © 2019 Bridget Webber. All rights reserved
