Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Happiness is a Choice, Not a By-product


We’ve discussed this topic on this blog before, but it’s one that I’ve been inspired to write about again. It’s so common for people to assign things, people, and circumstances as the determining factor in their happiness. They think that once this or that happens, they’ll be happy. They believe that their happiness, confidence, and life’s purpose hinges on other people’s opinions or feelings. They allow themselves to get discouraged by other people’s responses, but remember YOU ARE COMPLETE!

The only one who can determine your happiness is yourself—no one else. You do not require someone else’s approval for the choices you make. Your life purpose is a calling made to you alone and you’re the only one capable of pulling it off.

Can you imagine if a doctor who treated a loved one was discouraged by family members or friends? Maybe they would have given up because of all the long hours involved in receiving their education. What if they decided it wasn’t worth it, because of other people’s opinion, and got a job at a department store? Maybe your loved one never would have found the same treatment with someone else.

Can you imagine if artists never painted? Writers never wrote? Singers never sang? And the list goes on. The world would be a very dull place. Not to mention one that was crippled and didn’t function properly.

Think too of those who were pioneers in their field. The Wright brothers who invented the airplane. The world at that time probably thought they were crazy. What about Graham Bell who invented the phone? Or Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb? What if the Internet was never invented?

Are you getting the point? You are vital to this world. Your life purpose was gifted to YOU for YOU to share with others. Please, choose happiness—it only belongs to you—and live your purpose.

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CAROLYN ARNOLD is the author of several published novels, including her best-selling Madison Knight series. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but it was only in recent years that she was reunited with this love to pursue it with career passion.

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1 comment:

  1. Hi David, Sorry to hear that you've got through bouts of depression. I have had very low lows myself and I agree with what you're saying. I just think it's good to help people realize that they do have a choice. Sometimes when you're really low it feels like you have none, or that they've been made for you.

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