Can you really choose to be happy?

[4nana]

Very well said..

Most things in life are within our control.. If a situation (or a person) makes us feel unhappy, stressed out, sad, angry, etc., and we choose not to change those circumstances, the end result is that we have chosen to be "unhappy"..

If a situation is totally out of our control, we can still choose how to accept it; make it better; look for the silver lining; or simply strive to be at peace with it.. When we do that, we have chosen being "happy" over not being happy..

That's not to say that we don't all have a bad day here and there; feel the need to vent once in awhile; or worse yet, grieve the loss of a loved one.. But how we deal with these things is a choice and based on the choices we make, we are ultimately "choosing" whether we will be happy or unhappy..

I totally agree C.Ann, you said exactally what I was thinking!!


*ATTN* Pin Wizard:
where did your little boy siggie pix go you've had up for years ?! LOVE the new one, your DS is so handsome and what a lovely couple they make!

 

[Planogirl]

If you fake happiness, I believe it effects your brain chemistry and keeps you from being miserable or depressed.

There are people who believe that if you smile, that it can change your outlook. Just a smile can make you feel better! I think that's pretty nice.

As for faking happiness, I don't think that's really true. You can be happy if you seek out the good things and put a proper perspective on the bad things. Usually, that is. It depends on what the bad things are of course.

 

[mrsklamc]

Faking happiness is NOT the same thing as CHOOSING happiness. Faking happiness will just lead to a nervous breakdown.

And yes, you can, control emotions. Not totally, of course, but neither are you a helpless victim of their dictates.

 

[AlleyKat]

No way. I've heard this one before. If you "try" to be happy, you most likely really aren't. You'll be attempting to fool yourself and everyone else. But when it comes to be the end of the day, I don't think any type of convincing will actually make you "feel" happy. The last I checked, happiness was an emotion. Can't control those. And attempting to appear happy can be very exhausting.