Happiness is most definitely a choice. It isn’t given to you as a gift or requirement, so don’t wait for Happiness to be delivered to you in a box or in a military mission execution order. The prize team isn’t going to show up on your doorstep with cameras and balloons giving you a Happiness check every week for life. If happiness was a Dr Seuss book it might read; You can’t buy it in a store or from scouts at your door. It is an internal, all about you, all out daily decision on your part to pursue happiness and be happy. Again, happiness is most definitely a choice!
So, what is happiness? Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, contentment, and a positive frame of mind. Note, I didn’t say everything in your life is perfect or your daily routine is filled with everything you ever wanted or dreamed about in life. Happiness isn’t a thing, people or place. Although I did ask a seven year old one time what happiness is, and without hesitation she said, “happiness is unicorns, flowers, glitter and rainbows.” Well, there you have it, I stand corrected – but you get the idea.
I know people who have endured great sacrifice, pain, and struggles, yet they are some of the happiest people I know because they are filled with a sense of well-being, joy, and contentment in their lives and have a positive frame of mind. I had the honor and privilege of meeting people around the world, some who have nothing, and they taught me what happiness is by living it daily. In many cases, the ones who had the least, gave the most. Put that concept in your happiness bank.
So, you ask, how do I decide to be happy? Well, I’m glad you asked. Every day we have the ability to create and choose our thoughts, emotions and actions. Life, happiness, change, new solutions, love, compassion, acceptance, kindness etc., or not, are all choices we can make daily. Each has benefits and/or consequences, and we all have experienced both with our choices. The only person holding us back from positive thoughts, emotions and actions is us. All of us have the ability to decide. Happiness is a choice.
Option A: Choose to take all life hands us and decide to make each day a positive one filled with appreciation, gratitude, joy and happiness and be a beacon of light to inspire others.
Option B: Choose to let all that life dishes out get us down, negatively affect us, influence us to play the role of a victim, and allow bitterness, judgment, hate, anger, etc. to take the lead.
Tip: Option A takes effort but is so worth it. (PS: Option B takes way more effort)
Each day is full of choices – choose with wisdom and strive for Option A. Everyone needs to acknowledge though, we are all human, and despite good intentions we let Option B take the lead, whether occasionally or a lot. I am no exception. That’s OK too…in the end, there are no right or wrongs, just life lessons. Just choose to learn from the lessons and allow them to become a positive influence in your life.
Challenge: Be an instrument for change. You can change the world around you by choosing Option A. You have all heard of random acts of kindness. Practice this and watch not only what it does to help others but be in awe of how it changes you.
While deployed to southern Afghanistan, I kept using Option A vs. Option B with some humor as a way to change mindsets as the mission kept demanding more. A Soldier on our team that was always one happy positive ray of sunshine coined the phrase: Option A all the Way! I will always appreciate her for that brilliant and inspiring input. Soon after she came up with that, an Army National Guard Public Affairs team asked if they could interview me – they needed a story to help provide some motivation to others during some strenuous times. I asked why they chose me, and they said I was always happy and positive despite all I had been through in my life to include the loss of a child. They asked me why, and my answer was simple. Happiness is a choice. It always has been and always will be. Option A all the Way!
After the article came out, I received some positive feedback within military circles. I eventually put “Option A all the Way” after my email signature block for a short time and it took hold. I started receiving emails from others over the next few months who had it on their signature block too, people who had no idea from where it originated. About a year after I redeployed, I received an email from someone in Afghanistan that had that under their signature block, and when I asked, she told me (paraphrased), it stands for remaining positive and rise above anything that happens. Bam! Option A all the way! Go get you some of that Option A goodness. You get you some.
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Exercise: Set intentions within yourself for positive change, then journal the changes you decide to make and the outcomes they will bring in all three areas: Spirit, Mind & Body. Write out the simple actions you’ll take on a daily basis. Put them up in a place you can see them and read them aloud every day. Then start doing them. Take action.
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Tips: Have fun with it and when it works or you stumble along the way, laugh about it. It’s a process, and success is defined by effort. Journal your results…you will be amazed what happens as you stick with it despite ups and downs. You’ll be even more amazed when others ask why you’ve changed, and you see a positive change in them too…people always want what someone else has that is positive … especially happiness.
Happiness is contagious, so choose and spread happiness like seeds in the wind. Choose to be a catalyst for positive change and to make a difference! Be the ball. Be the one that sets the positive tone, mood, and outcome. Be the change the world needs more of today.
A closing example of “choice.” I put this phrase on my mirror at home and inside my office during my last assignment: “I choose to make this a positive day and be a positive influence in the lives of other people!” Try it on your mirror and door, live it and watch it change your life.
