Michael

Your success and happiness lie in you… Resolve to keep happy‚ and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. – Helen Keller

Most of us were taught from a very young age that being happy was based on what desires were fulfilled, what requests were granted and how we were treated by others. Unfortunately, as children, we also learned very quickly that these times were fleeting moments. This caused us to continue to ask for things, persuade others to act the way we needed and to continually search for external sources of happiness. Very few of us were taught to find happiness within ourselves.

I know from personal experience that depending on external events and other people is fraught with frustration. In fact, this external dependence on happiness can be a huge factor in mood swings, feelings of sadness, loneliness and in some people, depression. For the majority of my life, most of my happiness depended on other things. I did not feel in control of my life much less my happiness. These feelings created a circle of negative feelings that was hard to break out of.

When we cultivate our happiness from within, external forces have little to no effect on our state of happiness. It’s like being at the center of massive tornado. You’re at the center of the storm, happy, at peace and in complete control, while the world outside seems to swirl chaotically around you. What you will find as you work on being happy within is that the world around you begins to change. Your external world will start to reflect your inner feelings of happiness and contentment. It may be subtle at first, but will grow as your state of being becomes flooded with an increased level of happiness. Additionally, when “things” happen that cause difficulties or challenges, you will have a reservoir of strength to deal with anything that comes your way.

Resolve to be happy now. It’s a simple choice, an attitude shift. Your life will never be the same again.

Have a great day!

Michael