Happiness, like so many believe, is not a choice.
It’s not like the outfit you wore today—you can’t just pick it out and put it on.
And it’s not a decision, like where to get lunch.
I don’t want to say that only some people are lucky enough to stumble across it, but I have realized that this very well might be true.
I’ve gone through periods of time in my life, lasting months or even years, where I’m really not happy. Yes, I could smile and laugh as I went out and did things and spent time with people I love, but I wasn’t genuinely happy to be alive. When I fell asleep at night, I always questioned if that was really it—if that’s the depth and width of what my life would hold. Was my “happy” attitude fake? Maybe. I was just so busy trying to find happiness in a life that simply didn’t sell it. And it exhausted me.
That’s when I realized that happiness can’t be chosen. It’s an emotion, like sadness, that overtakes your heart and your mind. Only then did I begin to truly understand those broken-hearted twenty somethings, with their great jobs and copious amounts of income, who one day just decided to drop it all and start over because even success and money can’t buy happiness.
Happiness doesn’t mean you don’t have issues or struggles to overcome. It doesn’t mean there won’t be tears or disappointment along the way. It means that day in and day out you’ve found a purpose; a way to carry on. It’s even more than that—you’ve found the joy in something to live for; to live by. You’ve finally been able to take a breath, clear your mind, and see the beauty that life supplies. Happiness isn’t found in wealth or the amount of people you know or within the walls of where you spend your time.
Happiness is found when you slow down,
When you humble yourself,
When you let go of expectations,
When you realize that life was meant to be enjoyed.
I, myself, have found it in the simplest of life’s moments.
Picking wildflowers,
The smell of coffee shops,
Quiet time with God,
Swimming in rivers that mosey through the mountains,
Warmth from fuzzy socks,
Tears that fall in someone else’s hands,
The sound of rain on the window pain,
Hand written cards,
The feel of small towns,
The satisfaction in helping others,
The way it feels to be awake at sunrise,
Snuggling up to someone you love,
Looking at the stars,
Laughing.
Life was not meant to be lived in a rush or an uncomfortable state.
You were not created to be broken; to be lost or afraid.
You were created to enjoy the sunsets,
To hear the sound of the rain,
To swim in the rivers,
To hug someone you love,
You were created to serve,
To celebrate,
To love yourself and others.
You were created to be victorious,
To be happy.
So, put down your cell phone.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Simplify.
Quit worrying.
Don’t be so critical.
Let go of that high stress job.
Get out of that abusive relationship,
That big city.
Take care of yourself.
Embrace uncertainty.
Be brave.
Count your blessings.
Talk about your joys, not your problems.
Trust God, trust yourself.
Take time.
Forgive quickly.
Make a change, make a difference.
Take a breath.
Keep your mind right, and your head up.
Go out into the world and find yourself.
Find your purpose.
And only then, can happiness find you.
