WHY BE HAPPY?
BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian
We all know that money can't buy happiness. I can lease it to you by the month, or if you prefer to rent…I'm just kidding. Happiness is a decision, which is why money can't buy it. It is a decision only you can make. The decision is just a one step method…that's it, not three, or twelve steps. Who can remember so many? But everybody can remember just one step. You can find a copy of the Happiness Decision on the Happiness Club website.
All you have to do is remember the one step: Choose happiness every moment in your life over anything that can take your happiness away! Now that you have made the happiness decision you realize that happiness is where you're headed. Choose happiness instead of allowing anything to upset you. Once you have make the happiness decision it becomes easier and easier being happy from moment to moment.
Why choose happiness? Because that's what you want. When something makes you unhappy, the reason you feel that way is because you think the person or situation took your happiness away. You have let yourself become a victim. Victimhood just does not work. When you are unhappy you become a victim who has no choices.
You're unhappy because you have a problem, and you have cut yourself off from the choices available to you. The problem becomes bigger than life; it consumes you and overwhelms you. You feel there is nothing you can do about it because your state of unhappiness directs you to see life that way. Once you think unhappily, once you think in terms of the problem and not the solution, you disempower yourself from dealing with the problem.
Problems have solutions. Take a look at death as an example. Death is not a "problem." Do you have a choice about death? What choice do you have over death? Nothing, it's a fact of life! So, why choose to make it a problem. If you don't accept it you are going to be unhappy. Death is just a part of life. You will suffer as a result of your reaction to your own negative thinking. This is your choice, but you have another choice … to live and enjoy your life. Just be happy!
In a happy state you can deal with any problem because you can better see what choices you have available to you. This clarity enables you to deal with your problem. You can only make the best choice available to you now. That's all you can do. But first you need to know what your best choices are. Happiness can allow you to clearly see these choices. If you have no choice then you have something you do not like. It's not that you really have a problem.
The way to empower yourself is to decide to be happy no matter what. Choose happiness over anything else. This gives you the power to deal with life and deal with yourself. Happiness is power for those who practice it. When you're happy it gives you the awareness to realize what choices you have and what options are right for you. What real power do you have in doing this? You have power over yourself. That is the only real power you have, and this is very important, my friend; this is authentic power.
Have you noticed how hard it is for you to control anyone or anything? Well, you can control yourself by lightening up, relaxing, laughing about things, having fun, and enjoying life. What you are learning is that you can only control yourself, not anyone or anything else. Learn to let go of the things you can't change. This way they don't change you. Live with happiness and allow it to work for you.
Do you know the reasons people do not live with happiness? Many people are not even aware of happiness as being a choice they can make. Once people start learning that being happy is a choice, some don't think they are deserving of it. Often people do not love themselves enough to treat themselves with happiness. Take my word for it, BE HAPPY, YOU'RE WORTH IT!
Why be happy? Because it's the best way to live, and it's the best way to give. You can't give away what you haven't got. When you're happy, you start to share your happiness with others and show them your happiness and then they can model this behavior from you. They can become aware of happiness through you. They will see the wisdom of choosing to be happy for themselves. They can't contaminate you with their unhappiness. To the contrary you will infect them with your happiness. It is about controlling yourself, not others. This is the reason we have Happiness Club meetings.
People's happiness is up to them … not up to you. You can show them happiness even when they are not happy. What good does it do for you to become unhappy along with them? It doesn't do them any good, and it doesn't do you any good either. If they need quiet time, give it to them. If they want to be alone, fine. They don't need you to become unhappy because they have chosen to be unhappy. Becoming unhappy is not the way to prove to people that you love or care for them. Stay happy, support them, and show them you are happy. This will demonstrate that you love them. You need to maintain your own happiness. In this way you support and show them they can choose to be happy as well.
Learn to change what you can, and accept what you can't change. Being Happy allows you to tap into your own wisdom and common sense. Choosing happiness will make a big difference in your life … a difference that can change the world.
