Sunday 11 September 2011

Choosing Happiness

I can honestly say right now I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. And what I know for sure, is that happiness is a choice.

I did a lot of work to get where I am. But before the reading and research, before packing a camera in my purse every day in the hope of capturing interesting images, came making up my mind to be happy.

The first step, in everything in life, is making a choice. We make choices in every moment. Right now, you are choosing to read this article rather than fold laundry, watch TV, or give the dog a bath.

Right now, because I want to spread joy, optimism and inspiration, I am choosing to write this article rather than wander into the kitchen and fill a bowl with chocolates for a late night snack, which would really only bring joy to me (at least until regret sets in and I begin calorie counting).

The point is, we choose every second. Even when we lay about doing nothing, we are making a choice every moment to continue to lay about, rather than getting up and doing anything else.

We seem to equate choosing with changing. Often when we stay the course we feel as though we’re not making any choices at all, yet we are making choices - we’re just not making different ones.

It has been said that we think 60,000 thoughts every day. And ninety percent of them are the same thoughts we had the day before. With that kind of habitual thinking it’s no wonder choosing different thoughts can be challenging.

What you have to ask yourself is, are you happy now? And if not, what are you willing to do to be happy?

For me it was a matter of becoming so uncomfortable where I was that more than wanting change, I felt it was necessary. I got to the miserable, prickly place where staying the course I was on was no longer an option. I didn’t like myself depressed and feeling worthless. At the moment that realisation overtook me, I made a different choice. I chose to be happy instead - to enjoy my life and be a joyful person.

It is through choice that we begin to create our lives. Through choice we grow and feed and prune our days into the life we want.


"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
~~ Anon



I came upon this ancient Moreton Bay Fig tree while walking in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney on 28th August 2011. I stood and admired its beauty for some time.

12 comments:

Christine said...

I'm glad you've found that happy place within you Peggy.

I was reading a 911 survivor story and was struck by his words...live in the present, not the past or the future. I tend to be a worrier, so these might be words for me to try to live by.

Gorgeous tree.

Cinderella said...

Good Sunday morning to you Peggy.

Very wise and so true.
It is that conscious choice, that discipline of chossing and rechoosing - even up to 60,000 times a day, that brings you a joy and happiness you have encouraged, created, nourished and now celebrate.

It is a role model that anybody can follow, if they CHOOSE to.

And you are right, it takes gettting uncomfortable enough with being unhappy to be willing to see that there are other options worth pursuing and maintaining.

((Big hugs))

VERY PROUD OF YOU))

McMGrad89 said...

Thank you.

Mike Smith said...

I'm delighted you are happy, Peggy. You certainly bring a lot of happiness into other people's lives. I find your words particularly relevant right now. Take care.

Chapter Forty said...

Good for you Peggy.

I am always harping on at B to make sensible choices instead of silly ones, but where is the fun in that.

Its crazy to think we have the same thoughts everyday and make the same decisions, talk about Ground hog day, but it is always the easier choice to do nothing. Changing and making a different choice, challenges most of us.

Have you heard of laughter therapy?

A Daft Scots Lass said...

Amazing how content you become when you decide to drive your own bus (if you know what I mean).

Great wee blog!!

Zz... said...

Good post :) I never understand why so many people seem to "choose" to be so unhappy!! But yeah I guess everyone has different circumstances some much more difficult than others too...

xxx said...

I know that beautiful tree and many more like it in glorious Sydney.

I like your choice... and I couldn't agree more.

Ignorance is not bliss.

love to you
Robyn

Ninon Jean-Claire said...

Yes! You know I need it...and know I totally agree ;) Keep sharing your journey dear lady! FYI...you can't see it, but I add you to my "family" circle...and some biological ones are not there.

Can-Can said...

So true. When I was in my early 30s, I read a book by Dr. Wayne Dwyer and there was a line that stuck with me - "There is no road to happiness, happiness is the way." I decided to make happiness my way as much as possible which includes two tenets for me: sorting for the good in life and doing what I can rather than being stuck in what I can't.
Thanks, again.

Maureen said...

Dear friend, your choice, to choose happiness each day, shines through you. It is there each time you reach out, to friends near and far. After you left a comment for me recently, I had a thought about what a joyful, warm, thoughtful person you are. And how lucky for me to have found you.
Thank you for the reminder to choose happiness . . . sometimes in the busyness of life, it is forgotten.
xo

Jennifer said...

I am so happy that you have chosen happiness! Every time you leave me a comment it brings me so much joy. Your post reminds me of this very inspirational women who decided to choose joy. You might like this http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/choose-joy.html

It can be so easy to get caught up in the next thing to-do, negative thoughts etc. Thank you for the reminder that it's as simple as choosing happiness. Thank you my friend! with love jen