I think choosing happiness means making hundreds of little choices that take my days in the direction of overall happy life. Don't focus on what's wrong. Not everybody knows this. See more from Ascend here. 20 Secrets of AlwaysHappy People, How to Always ChooseHappinessEven During Tough Times, How to HaveHappyThoughts and Train Your Brain to BeHappy, People Make Time For What They Want And You Should Too, How to Say No Nicely Over Text (Examples For Different Scenarios), How to Focus With ADHD: 7 Practical Strategies, How To Say No At Work Without Making Enemies, How to Prioritize Goals When You Have a Lot to Achieve. This is what choosing happiness truly means. While it's probably meant to be motivational and positive most of the time, if you start to poke at it a bit, it has some fundamental flaws. This goal could be anything. This doesnt mean that it is impossible, but rather that they have to work a little bit harder for it. No matter how hard you try to avoid difficulty, you will have to face it eventually. [5] A. Steptoe and J. Wardle, Positive affect and biological function in everyday life, Neurobiology of Aging, vol. How do you experience happiness if you dont know sadness and pain? There is also Sheree, a young corporate lawyer, who, with no experience in entrepreneurship, walked away from her job and ended up starting the largest co-working space for female-led entrepreneurs in Australia. Thats when I set off on my next adventure: building a methodology to hack happiness. You are the makeup of the 5 people you surround yourself with the most. Two key components of happiness (or subjective well-being) are: The balance of emotions: Everyone experiences both positive and negative emotions, feelings, and moods. How about considering these examples of how you can, indeed, CHOOSE to be happy. Where does happiness come from? You probably don't realize it, but you answer that question every time your brain says, "I'll be happy. Happiness can be a process, goal, or emotion, depending on how you look at it. Ugh! Scroll down to continue reading article , What Is Productivity And How to Take Charge of Time, Why am I so Tired and How to Boost My Energy, Happiness Isn't an Idea, It's an Experience, What Makes PeopleHappy? 42, no. Happy people . Not only that community service cultivates compassion and strengthens bonds between neighbors, but it's also an excellent way to solve various problems that arise in your neighborhood, especially when local authorities might not have the resources to fix them. We can choose happiness by engaging in activities that promote positive emotions in us: stuff we like. Exercise helps you cope with stress, structure your day, and improve your physical fitness. Share in the comments below! Because it Consolidates Your Relationship, 7. Earlier we discussed why life is hard and that suffering is a part of life. Only to find it doesn't work, and like in any good Disney movie, true happiness comes from within. A fresh coat of paint and some furniture rearranging can work wonders. #5 Taking responsibility for our own happiness: Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that external factors like money, relationships, or material possessions will turn on the happy switch in our brains. It's a favorite of frustrated parents and teachers, and it's certainly popular with a subset of psychologists. Choosing to look at the bright side in situations can help with your overall happiness. #1 Choosing to focus on the positive: When you're faced with a difficult situation--maybe you've lost your job or broken up with your partner--you can choose to focus on the negative aspects of the situation, or you can look for the positive. Making everyone have a healthy brain would make a significant difference in happiness around the world because having a healthy brain is the first step. This can be quite exhausting mentally, so they need to be given some grace for their actions! Amanda Pinnock chose to experience another culture even though she was worried about fitting in. Getting angry a lot messes with your health. Joyce Meyer, I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. But what if I told you that you can actually choose happiness? It is also important to note that choosing happiness can be more difficult for some versus others. In essence, we are choosing happiness. Its not a mindset of just getting by but one of intentionality. Sustainable Development Solutions Network releases the World Happiness Report. - Valerie Bertinelli, "Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times." Take up that hobby youve been meaning to start. The Importance of Time Management: 6 Ways It Matters, Poor Sleep Quality Comes from All the Things You Do Since Morning, 12 Time Wasters That Suck Your Productivity While You Work, How to Live a Full Life (Without Compromising on What Truly Matters), Achieving Goals: The Ultimate Guide to Goal Achieving & Goal Setting in 2022, What Is Motivation And How To Get Motivated (Your Ultimate Guide), How to Increase Mental Focus and Stay Sharp, How To Get Fit If You Have a Busy Schedule, What Is Motivation And How To Get Motivated, What Is Procrastination And How To Stop It, Achieving Goals: The Ultimate Guide to Goal Achieving in 2023, Why Am I So Tired And How To Boost My Energy. Ready to find out more about how and why happiness is a choice? The reality is that the concept of happiness us, in fact, flawed. 2 years ago I was a very unhappy person, I had dealt with mental illness for years and was finally on the right treatment plan which allowed me to no longer be depressed. [6] K. W. Davidson, E. Mostofsky and W. Whang, Don't worry, be happy: positive affect and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease: The Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey, European Heart Journal, vol. I interviewed more than 100 people between the age of 22 and 70 from various walks of life. Yet the answer is a lot simpler than you might expect: happiness is a choice. She made a conscious decision to move on from her career as a farmer to that of a yoga teacher, helping other people find their inner peace. But is that so terrible? The people who felt the most fulfilled were the ones who had learned to let go of the need to feel happy all the time and had not only accepted the ups and downs that come with being alive but had also come to appreciate them. Create a list of all the things you are curious about but have little to no knowledge of and dont limit them to work-related topics. As they processed those negative emotions, it helped them uncover what truly mattered to them. Because it Helps You Cope with Stress Better, 4. ", Begin the new year with a positive outlook, Mehak's Story - Gratitude's Guiding Presence, Ella J. However, let's look at a few scientific insights that will change the way you see happiness: We like to think that some people are born with the `right` mindset for happiness. Abstract People make choices among different options for different reasons. I have high functioning autism and at first really did not want to join the group because I felt that I didnt want to be identified in that way. But he's not the only one who viewed happiness as the result of conscious, voluntary actions. I realize that this notion might make you feel scared. However, there is one thing that is required to boost well-being, and that is work. But as each of us knows from experience, life's unexpected turns can often throw us off course in our pursuit of happiness. This didnt pull her down: In her grief, she chose gratitude and made an intentional choice to continue living a full life not only for herself and for her mental wellbeing, but for others who relied on her. Ok so that's a lot of science. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it. Groucho Marx, "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. 38, pp. Use fear as a green light to ride the edge of their comfort zone, because they know that growth occurs in discomfort. April 06, 2023 TAGS: happiness, hard work, choice, self love, awareness, happy goals READ COMMENTS Updated April 6, 2023 Yes, Happiness Takes Work There's an old Confucius saying that I'm sure many of you have heard: "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." And I must admit: working towards happiness is fun! A great way to do this is by practicing micro bravery. You'll also be better able to cope with negative events (Pressman & Cohen, 2005). The moment you start viewing happiness as a choice is a moment when your life will take a turn for the better. If you share your computer or it is a public computer, you should leave this box unchecked. 9, p. 10651070, 2010. Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now. How Is Happiness a Choice? They set their minds on specific reasons to be grateful . Most of us are led to believe that happiness is a final destination one that can be reached if we make the right choices, learn from our mistakes, and keep pushing forward. There's going to be stress in life, but it's your choice whether you let it affect you or not." How do you choose to be happy? As one study revealed, people who are surrounded by many happy people and those who are central in the network are more likely to become happy in the future. But research suggests that our mindset and our behaviours can also play a significant role in shaping our experience of happiness. Maybe it has something to do with our fundamental need for belonging, or perhaps we're somehow wired to involuntarily tune into the emotional vibe of a group we're part of. Give to others what you canit doesnt have to be physical either. Change is inevitable in life. First, Buddhists acknowledge that existence lends itself to pain and mental dysfunction. 2, p. 199219, 2018. More often than not, unexpected joy is found on the other side. I gift myself 15 minutes of learning each morning before I do any work at all. I don't think so. As it turns out, exercise benefits recovery in a number of ways: Even if you dont take it to that extent, start small and exercise on a regular basis, then build up to greater challenges. Find true happiness. - Marcus Aurelius, "Happiness is a choice. 2, pp. Take me for example, for many . 16489-16493, 2010. Breathing the fresh air, getting the movement in, seeing some furry friends. Previous Post Next Post About The Author #3 Doing things that make us happy. Pleasure is all about experiencing positive emotions, like joy, delight and surprise, in the present moment. Final Thoughts. "Happiness is not something ready made. There is no maximum level of happiness (at least that has been achieved).