Can a person choose to be happy in life? Is it even a choice? Many people ask this question, especially when times are tough.
While the answer seems straightforward, some people feel guilty for being happy. Others feel like they aren’t able to be happy.
Let’s talk about the concept of choosing happiness for yourself. Read on if you’ve ever asked, “Can I choose to be happy?”
Can A Person Choose To Be Happy?
Can a person choose happiness? Yes! Anyone can choose to lead a happy life, no matter their circumstances.
While you can’t instantly achieve happiness, you can intentionally choose happy thoughts and behaviors that promote positivity and contentment in your daily life. Focus on adopting habits, mindsets, relationships, and activities that uplift, energize, and engage you. With intention, practice, and a positive attitude, a happier you is within reach.
Will Feeling Happy Be Permanent?
So, let’s say you choose happiness. Does this mean that you will never be unhappy again? No, unfortunately not.
You may feel unhappy again at some point in time. But your aim is not to control every facet of life. It is to learn how to be happy, no matter what life throws at you!
Life’s ups and downs are frequently not under your control. There are bright days as well as dark days.
When you learn how to deal with life’s challenges positively and constructively, you will tip the scales in favor of more happiness.
Choosing To Be Happy: 7 Top Tips
Happiness does not have to be some far-off goal, forever out of your reach. You can start living a happier life today if you choose to.
You are responsible for your own happiness, and that means that you need to set the wheel in motion yourself. To help you along, here are our 7 top tips for choosing and finding happiness.
1. Acknowledge Your Negative Feelings
Can a person choose to be happy, even while they are desperately unhappy? Only when they understand why they are unhappy. The first step to overcoming your negative feelings and emotions is acknowledging that you have them.
You can only fix a problem when you know what the problem is. Accept that, like all humans, you have negative feelings about certain issues. Negative feelings are not an obstacle to happiness. If you accept the reality of your feelings, you can begin taking steps to address them constructively.
Resolving your issues can be done with the professional help of a therapist, counselor, or religious group leader. They can help you pinpoint what your negative feelings and problems are so that you can start to resolve them. This will clear the path for you to pursue more joy, contentment, and satisfaction in your life.
2. Banish Negative Thinking With Positive Affirmations
Can a person choose to be happy and still have negative thoughts? Yes, but there are ways to deal with them. Believing that you will never again have any negative thoughts is unrealistic.
Instead, counteract them with positive thoughts and affirmations of self-love. With regular use, affirmations can become a new and healthy habit. You will start seeing almost any situation in a more positive light. You will also find yourself less prone to negativity and happier.
Creating your own affirmations is usually the most effective strategy to quiet your negative thoughts. However, if making your own affirmations feels daunting at first, begin with some commonly used positive phrases to help build your confidence with the practice. Over time, you’ll get better at tailoring affirmations to target your negative thoughts and cultivate more positive thinking.
3. Meditate Your Way To Happiness
Can a person choose to be happy without a measure of calm in their life? Yes, but it will take more work to achieve.
That is why we recommend finding the space and time to meditate. If you are new to meditation, start with a beginner’s course online. Many are free, and you can learn at your own pace.
We, humans, love to make excuses, don’t we? We all have busy lives, and finding free time for mindfulness activities like meditation or yoga can be difficult. But, if you are committed to choosing happiness, you will prioritize these acts of self-care and find time for your peace of mind.
Even a few minutes at the start or end of each day will make a big difference in your state of mind. A clear mind is a happier mind. So, to experience happiness in the present moment and let go of stress, anxiety, and negativity, find the time to meditate.
4. Smile More
Can a person choose to be happy by acting happy? Science says that it can! Even if you’re feeling low, something as simple as smiling can instantly lift your mood.
Smiling triggers the release of neuropeptides in the brain that boost mood and reduce stress. Even forcing a smile during tough times activates this biochemical mood boost. So while it may feel counterintuitive at first, smiling when you least feel like it can provide an instant jolt of positivity.
The physical act of smiling makes people feel happier, more capable, confident, and optimistic. Smiling also makes you seem more likable, approachable, and trustworthy to others. So, smile whenever you can.
Smile deliberately during stressful activities or while working through problems to boost your mood and help you think more clearly and creatively. Smile while doing ordinary tasks like washing dishes, sorting mail, or commuting to infuse positivity into mundane moments. And, of course, smile at others to improve their day and yours!
5. Practice Gratitude
Can a person choose to be happy without gratitude? Not really, no. Cultivating gratitude is a big part of choosing to be happy.
Why? Because when you count your blessings, even the small things, and express gratitude for them, you open the door to happiness.
The converse is also true. You will be unhappy if you are not grateful for the blessings in your life.
Gratitude is not always innate but is a choice that you make. Spend time listing everything you are grateful for, even if it is just for a few minutes at the end of the week. A gratitude journal can help.
You can choose to be grateful and develop this emotional response. By doing so, you will also be choosing happiness for yourself. Many happy people started their path to joy with the simple act of practicing gratitude. So shift the focus off what you lack and onto the good things you already have.
6. Show Kindness To Others
Can a person choose to be happy by showing kindness to others? Yes! Showing kindness is a guaranteed way of choosing happiness for your life. You feel better about yourself when you speak kindness or perform acts of kindness. And the recipient of your kind gestures does too.
Many people find kindness easy, as it is human nature to be kind. It doesn’t come naturally to everyone, though. Past experiences can deeply affect one’s ability to show kindness to others. Fortunately, with practice and conscious effort, anyone can cultivate kindness as a habit. By intentionally being kind, you can rewire your patterns of thinking and behavior.
What serves as an act of kindness? Anything you do or say that improves the lives of others in some way is a kind act or gesture.
A great way to implement acts of kindness into your routine is to get involved with a local charity or volunteer group. Other ways to be kind include helping someone carry their groceries, picking up litter, or just lending a listening ear.
The next time you are feeling low, try showing kindness to others. It is a great way to improve your mood and make someone else’s day.
7. Treasure The Little Things
Can a person choose to be happy if they don’t have much material wealth? Yes! Some of the most impoverished societies have some of the happiest people.
Material possessions do not make you happy. The things that count are usually less financially quantifiable, like having good friends.
Treasure the little things and the not-so-little things you have in your life. If you live near a park, go for regular walks in nature. If you live in the countryside, plant a vegetable patch and grow your own healthy and fresh produce. You may have a particular artistic or musical talent you can further develop!
Learn to be happy with what you have. Treasure the little things that bring you joy, and do more of them. If you look closely enough, you will find many reasons to be happy.
Find ways to build more activities around what makes you happy, and you will boost your life satisfaction and be a happy person.
Final Thoughts
Can a person intentionally choose to be happy in life? Yes, they can. There is hope even if you have spent your whole life thinking you will never be happy.
Your negative thoughts are likely the result of conditioning due to past experiences.
You can change this pattern of thinking and look forward to a whole new life experience. And remember this – you are not alone!
Achieving happiness is a dream shared by us all. But it doesn’t have to stay a dream. It can become your new reality. Start choosing happiness today and watch your happiness levels grow!
Happiness is a choice. Choose happy every day with the Do Happy App. The app offers daily tasks that are guaranteed to make you happy. Check it out today!
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