“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
― Dali Lama
I read that today and started thinking about happiness. It has taken me many years to realize I am responsible for my own happiness. I have the power to choose to focus on the positive things in my life instead of what I don’t have. I think this is an important point to focus on to become the active healthy person I am.
I had someone ask me the other day are you always happy? They told me it was nice to see the smile on my face and it actually made them feel better about the day. I did have to admit I am not always happy but certainly see the positive things more than the negatives.
When I started focusing on happiness I started in tiny steps. It actually consisted of hanging post-its on my mirrors and reading them in the morning. It has now become a daily part of my nightly routine to list one thing I am happy about for that day. Today I am happy that I was able to get home in 25 minutes and I was able to open my moon roof on the ride home. Sometimes it is the little things that are the best. One of my favorite sayings is “Stop and smell the roses.”
My challenge to you is to just think of the things that make you feel happiness and positive for 1 week. It does become a habit. Please comment about what it is the makes you happy.
I think Charles Schultz said it best “Happiness is a warm puppy”
Blooming Burgh Boomer 
The Dali Lama was close. Happiness results from your actions, but it depends on what drives the action. To be happy, you have to choose what is driving you. Let say the action is to mow your lawn. You can mow your lawn worrying about how your neighbors will think you are lazy if it is overgrown. Or you can mow your lawn inspired to create a beautiful yard. The action is the same. The drive is what is different.
Thank you for your insight and comment.
So many things make me happy such as my family, friends, my faith, my volunteer work etc. but what makes me happy overall is that I found and set a rhythm for my life that works well for me. Great Post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
I think you have hit a key in that you found and set the rhythm. I think when we start taking control we are happier. Thanks for all your support. It means a lot to me.
Great post! I honestly needed this right now. I now need to choose – positive or negative. You know, for the most part I am positive; however, lately I have let the negatives over run me and it has affected me in too many ways – none good. Now it’s time to take a major Uturn and get back on the path of positive thoughts / vibes and turn my like around. THANK YOU much!
Glad I could help. I think we all go through the valleys of negative. I find I need to do an inventory of all the positive things and find the happiness vegin to flow. Thanks for your continued support of my blog.