Happiness Is A Choice

Let’s be honest. Happiness is a choice leading to an emotional state. Contrary to skeptics, first comes the conscious choice, in this case happiness, and then comes the emotional expression of that happy state.

Intrusions In The Happiness Choice

Let’s also acknowledge that not everything comes down to a choice especially when a person may have to emotionally deal with the loss of a loved one or your pet of many years dies or when your wife or husband has left you. Sure, these circumstances of life mean that a natural state of mourning at one’s personal loss is something that cannot be chosen away to in any way suggest that a choice overarches the hurt or pain. Nevertheless, if your prevailing choice has been one of happiness, it is my contention that the pain or hurt will not be the predominant emotional state for the rest of your life.

Happiness Is a Daily Choice

On the other hand, excluding those situations or circumstances of life that we’ll all face in one form or another, do you realize that each day is a new opportunity? A new opportunity, a new beginning, to awaken in the light of day to start afresh. It isn’t a day to waste or a day to hold grudges. Instead, it is a day, only one day, and it is amazing what can be done what can be seen, or what can be embraced through gladness not sadness.

“If you don’t think every day is a great day try going without one.” Jim Evans

For example, in the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, there are treatment strategies that can be easily adapted to each day you live. It is a strategy “to not drink” for just a one day, and one day at a time.

It is not a worry about tomorrow but the application of the mind to endure or embrace one day at a time for it is obvious that we cannot live in tomorrow’s anymore than we can relive the past. Leave tomorrow alone for today’s concerns are all you need to be concerned about.

Happiness One Day At A Time

During the day, you can make it a vow to be happy, to exude confidence, and caring or love for your family. After all, it is only for a day.

During the day, you can go from task to task, to meet each colleague and each person no matter how frustrating without losing your temper, or showing frustration by being arrogant or ignorant. After all, it is only one day.

During the day, your concerns, trials and tribulations can be born without complaining or involving everyone else in your own persona. After all, it is only for a day.

During the day, you can control your fear and move forward without worry or being concerned about the risk. After all, it is only for one day.

During the day, you can extend a hand of warmth and friendliness to strangers or the less than fortunate. After all, it is only for one day.

During the day, you can forget what went wrong yesterday for yesterday is done and today is here. Make the most of your day right now. After all, it is only for one day.

A Conscious Choice To Be Happy; You Decide Not Someone Else

Life isn’t perfect but we all have a chance, an opportunity or a right to embrace each new day to do many things. We can decide to make it a great day, or we can simply squander it with pettiness, old grudges, or dwelling on previous mistakes.

During each day, we can make a choice. It is not the responsibility of any other person or group to decide if we should be happy or to live in gloom. We can and should make a choice to be in control of our thoughts and emotions in life. We do not have to give it away willingly to somebody else. We do not have to give the power to decide what our destiny is or isn’t. There are a lot of people who seem to want to control others in the sense that they seem to relish the idea that they need to mold someone else just the way they want. It is not their prerogative to design your life in any way at all unless this is what you really want. But, I doubt that you want to be created by someone else’s desires. You are your own person with the ability to create the life you want. After all, it is only one day.

During the day, you can build a life by initiating just one action step, a step that will take you further along the road to where you ultimately want to be. Each day is a brand new opportunity to take a meaningful step for after all, it is only one step for each day.

Today Is A Day To Share Rather Than Be Self-Focused

Today is the start in developing a sense of worthiness around you by giving to others without expecting anything in return. It only takes a few minutes from your day to offer this assistance for after all, it is only a day.

“Today is life – the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” Dale Carnegie

To Squander Today Is To Squander An Opportunity

During the day, be alive, be happy, be dedicated, and be real; just live each day to its fullness because once a day is gone, it is gone forever.

There is no doubt that we all have the same amount of time; the same number of hours and minutes in a day. It is also true that once a day is gone, that time can never be recovered. I’m sure you know people who hold to the view that there is always a tomorrow. A tomorrow when they will meet with a friend that they have not seen for many months or years; a tomorrow where they will finally start towards accomplishing a dream that has been sitting dormant for years; a tomorrow where they will tell a family member that they love them; a tomorrow where they will start to contribute or give back in relation to the many blessings they have received, or a tomorrow where they will exchange work time in order to dedicate quality time to one of their children.

I’m positive you’ve heard the expression that says there is no time like the present to begin. What does this expression mean? It means, simply put, that there is no guarantee that you will have a tomorrow. To express love, to embrace, to start, to give back, to share or to celebrate all start within the day not in the tomorrow.

Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:

“They who know how to employ opportunities will often find that they can create them; and what we can achieve depends less on the amount of time we possess than on the use we make of our time.” John S. Mill

“Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.” Author Unknown

“Each day’s a gift of life divine a precious jewel that’s yours and mine!” John McLeod

“Unless you know the joy of today you’ll lose the antecedents of happiness for tomorrow.” Byron R. Pulsifer

“Understanding is knowing what to do; wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is actually doing it.” Tristan Gylberd

“Thus, a wise individual is the one who learns to see positive even in unfavorable events and unanticipated behavior of people.” Lindsay J. Hallie, Happiness: Discover Happiness at Every Age… At Every Stage of Life