Happiness =)

“You choose your attitude.” I have heard this phrase countless times from my youth pastor and mentor, Kevin Brusett. It’s easy to think of the phrase as cliche, words without any relevance. When you actually stop to think about it, though, the words are pretty powerful. They mean that you can choose the way you feel no matter what situation you’re in; you have control over your emotions.

I believe happiness is a choice. Sure, there are situations that are definitely better than others, but when it comes down to it, you choose whether you’re happy or not. Only I have the power to choose this for myself, and only you have the power to choose it for yourself.

Have you ever noticed you hear a lot of stories about happy people who have nothing? They don’t have comfortable situations in life, and yet they still choose to be happy. Key phrase - they choose it. They don’t create it, or even find it. They choose it.

Imagine how much more powerful happiness would be if we thought of it as a lifestyle, similar to choosing a political party or religion. When we take happiness out of the category of emotions and “feelings,” it’s much easier to choose. It becomes a realistic, concrete way of living. If we think of it as a lifestyle, we no longer expect to get a good feeling every time we choose to be happy. That feeling will come sometimes, but it’s not the only result of happiness.

So, you might ask, what is another result of happiness? I would answer, a more fulfilled and meaningful life. Think of all the time in your life you’ve spent by feeling sad. I’m not talking about the sadness that comes from divorce, death, or crime. I’m talking about those days where we say “I just feel down today.” Remember what those days were like. Those days, at least for me, tend to be my least productive, least fun, and most wasted days in my life.

Now imagine those days given back to you to do over. Would you choose to be happy? To put grumpy thoughts from your mind and move on with the day? I would. At least, I would try. See, happiness may be a choice, but it’s a hard one. We’re always going to have those “down” days. It’s natural. However, we can choose to have less of them, by choosing happiness.