If you’re like most people, there are times when you’re bound to be unhappy. If you find yourself in that spot today, Choose to be Happy! When my children were in elementary school, whenever they were moping around or complaining, we would play the Attitude Check game. The rules were simple, whenever I said, “Attitude Check”, they would have to respond to “I Feel Great!” Their first response was usually not that enthusiastic, but by the time we got to the third or fourth repetition, they were generally laughing or shouting. As adults, it might not be that easy… or is it?
The older I get, the more I realize that Happiness is generally a choice. Sure, there are going to be occasions when life has its moments. As King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”, but in general, Happiness can be chosen.
The secret to finding happiness is to be content with what you have.
I wish I could take credit for that, but so many others have said this before. The Apostle Paul writes this in Philippians 4:11 where he said: “I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.”
For those of you who are not Christian, you can still choose to be happy by following the ways of a Stoic. Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 A.D. and he was also a Stoic Philosopher. A Stoic accepts the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, by using one’s mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly. You can be content in whatever situation you find yourself.
If things aren’t going well, remember, Happiness is a choice.
Choose to be happy!
JT