Happiness

Happiness is something we all supposedly want and strive for, but many of us do not achieve. We may have good days, or fun nights, but in the day to day moments, we get too caught up in emotions like worry, anger, annoyance, or disappointment to be happy.

We are happy by default. If we have our basic survival needs, food, water, shelter, a moderate temperature, enough sleep, and people around us who are good to us...we really should be happy.

The saying "money can't buy happiness" is repeated a lot, so many times that one would believe it to be true. Truth is, there are a lot of rich people who are miserable, a lot of poor people who are happy...and there are a lot of rich people who are happy, and poor people who are miserable. Money is not tied to happiness, unless a person decides it to be. Some shun money, others envy those who have it, and others still have it but are so afraid of losing it that they still are not ever really happy.

When you encounter in life a tragedy, a death, a major illness or accident, there is so much shock from the feeling of loss that it is not possible to just shake it off. It is then that a lot of people realize what they had before. They wish for yesterday to return, but if yesterday did return, they would not have appreciated it.

During times of major upset, one has to go through mourning and deal with grief.

Outside of times of major upset, happiness is really just a matter of choice. You really can just choose to be happy and be so. Other people and circumstances will arise that are not what you expected, or are obstacles, but whether you're happy or angry, most of the time, they will still be there. When you choose to maintain your positive outlook, you'll be more open to solutions than if you allow yourself to get really angry or really sad. If you focus on what you want...happiness....it will return shortly. If you shift your focus to what's "wrong" in that moment, then happiness will make a quick exit.

This may seem oversimplified, but it truly is that simple.