People desire to be happy, but few take the time to be happy. They are searching for happiness. Often happiness is equated with the amount of money a person has available to spend, the right vehicle or house. Happiness is not a tangible object we can hold and touch. Being happy is an emotion and a state of mind.
Events in life can bring forth happiness such as graduation, getting the dream job, a birth of a child, stirring up the emotion of being happy. Often short lived and quickly fading to other emotions.
My high school senior year English teacher stated to the class, “Happiness is a state of mind, a choice.” I had considered her statement with curiosity and the true meaning on if this statement was true.
Through the course of my life, I have learned her statement is true, happiness is a state of mind, and a choice. We can choose to be happy. Life events do not always bring happiness. The death of a family member causes us to go through grief and a period of sadness and emotional pain. The sudden loss of employment, resulting in stress and worry. There are a few who struggle with depression due to medical reasons or a life event. Our lives are intersected with many challenges, celebrations and disappointments, yet I choose to live a life in the state of being happy.
How does a person remain happy when life throws a “curve ball” into the well thought out plans? For me, it is to be focused on what is good in my life and at the moment. The first time my husband was laid off from his job, we had recently purchased our home and property, we were trying to get started in raising horses, and we had debts from before we were married. Our total income was suddenly stopped, with the one blessing of a severance package. We sold majority of the horses, cut out any unnecessary expenses, and he was looking for work. We did not know where we were even going to live, as his job search was taking a route of other places far from where we lived. I tend to worry, but instead I focused on the problem of cutting expenses and selling horses.
I could have gone down the deep dark hole of depression, as once again I was loosing my dream of raising horses. Instead I focused on how well the horses sold, knowing they were going to good homes. I focused on how well we were dealing with the situation as a couple by supporting and encouraging each other in this challenging period of our life. The most important thought was this will not last forever. These circumstances, this life changing event, would pass as it was not a permanent place we would be at. We both were working towards a change or a solution. He eventually was employed once more.
This particular life event was a life route changing event. I decided I was not ever going to raise horses as an income, although I enjoy doing so very much. That part or stage of my life was over. But I started raising sheep by “accident”. I enjoy raising sheep and the work involved. I still have a few riding horses, so I can still enjoy being with the horses, even though I am not raising horses.
Life will bring more changes into my path, as for one, the horses I currently own are getting older each year. My beloved dog companion, Bonnie Jo is in her last year or two of sharing life with me. I can focus on her problems, or I can enjoy her presence during our remaining time together.
A state of happiness is a choice of what you focus on, the problem or the everyday good things around you. The problems always feel like mountains in our road, but there is a pathway up and over the mountain if you look for it. Usually along the pathway over the mountain there are flowers to enjoy, breath taking views to see on the way to the top of accomplishment.
Each of us has the ability of making a choice.
amtollle
Me, Myself and I 