Who Is More Likely To Be Happy?

Here's a multiple choice question for you. Who is more likely to be happy?

(a) Someone who lays awake for an hour or so at night, replaying the day in their mind and agonising over what could have been, and what should have been.

"If only I'd said this..."

"How dare they do that..."

"Next time..."

"If only..."

or

(b) The person who spends five minutes before bed feeling gratitude for all the good in their lives, and focusing on the expectation of more to come tomorrow.

It's fairly obvious, isn't it? (I hope you said "b"!)

How about this one

(a) The person who drives to work shouting obscenities at any driver who does not follow their grand vision of how the trip should proceed, or

(b) The person who takes delight in the journey? enjoying the breeze through the window, and the sounds of the city, or their favourite radio station.

It looks like "b" is the winner again.

Hmm! Too easy? Lets try one more.

(a) The person who watches the news each evening, to hear the latest negativity from around the world. Wars, killings, political debates, or

(b) The person who turns off the television, and reads a book, or throws a ball to their children in the park.

If you got "b" again, CONGRATULATIONS! You're pretty good at this happiness stuff!

So what's my point?

Every moment in your life, YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

Your actions and your thoughts will either produce feelings of happiness, or they won't.

You can focus on the negative things in your life, or you can choose to focus on the positives. One will bring happiness, while the other won't.

You can worry about the future, and regret the past, or you can choose to focus on the joy that exists around you right now. Once again, one of these choices will bring happiness, and the other won't.

There's not one of us that deep down does not know the difference between happiness & sadness.

So, ask yourself:

"Are my current actions leading to happiness?"

"Are my current thoughts leading to happiness?"

If not, then change your actions. Change your thoughts. There is very little to be gained through persisting with negativity.

Do you dread going to work each morning? Then either change your job, or change the way you think about your job. Focus your attention on how you're gaining the necessary skills and experience to move on to the dream job that you just know is part of your life's purpose.

Do you hate the drive to work? Then travel a different route, or try sitting on a bus or train, listening to your favourite tunes on your MP3 player, or reading a book by your favourite author. Or use the time for personal development, listening to self-help audio tapes and CD's.

Have you flicked through all 100 channels, and still found nothing to watch. Well, there is another choice. You can turn the TV off. Talk to your partner. Cook a nice meal. Read a book. Play with your kids. Honest! There is an OFF button on the remote control.

Every moment is an opportunity to choose happiness.

It's your choice! It's your life. Choose wisely.

Lance Beggs.

Lance Beggs is the author of the "How to be Happy Now" newsletter, and the soon to be released "How to be Happy Now" book. His mission is to help others live a life of meaning, love & happiness! Subscribe to his FREE Mini Course & ezine at http://www.HowToBeHappyNow.com

In The News:


Telegraph.co.uk

Archbishop's daughter spearheads drive to teach 'happiness' in churches
Telegraph.co.uk
The so-called “Happiness Course” combines basic principles of secular popular psychology with ideas such as forgiveness and gratitude, promoted for centuries by Christianity. It is based on the principle that applying simple Biblical ideas such as ...

and more »

Bald eagle soars to health and happiness
WAVY-TV
Bald eagle soars to health and happiness. Updated: Friday, 17 May 2013, 11:48 PM EDT Published : Friday, 17 May 2013, 10:40 PM EDT. Walter Hildebrand. GLOUCESTER, Va. (WAVY) - One good thing about living in Hampton Roads is that sometimes you ...

and more »

WWL

Dalai Lama says compassion is the way to happiness
WWL
He spoke to a full room and while he shared some words of wisdom, he also talked about compassion as the way to happiness. The Dalai Lama reminded those listening that even when they are suffering, they are not alone because everyone is a brother and ...
A tireless Dalai Lama schools Madison audience on suffering, happinessWisconsin State Journal
The Dalai Lama visits New Orleans for conferenceNOLA.com
Dalai Lama: Violence has no place in worldThe Advocate
WGNO -Huffington Post -UW Badger Herald
all 120 news articles »

UC Berkeley (blog)

Searching for happiness: What makes life meaningful?
UC Berkeley (blog)
But would I really be happier if I gave up modern conventions and moved to an isolated cabin? Up until a few hours ago, I really thought that might be the solution. But then I read an article by a 26 year-old, Paul, who had given up the internet for a ...


The Atlantic

Study: Happiness Comes Easier With Upbeat Music
The Atlantic
About half of the participants were told to "really focus on trying to feel happier" while listening to music. Some were played the piece used in the 2003 study: Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring," which is characterized as "complex and discordant ...


GPS Guide: Rob White Says That Happiness Is 'A Natural Phenomenon' (PHOTOS
Huffington Post
You not only have the right to pursue happiness, you also have a responsibility to pursue it. Learn to be happy with who you are and what you have right now, and in this state of mind: It gets easier to do the right things that bring even more ...


Happiness Defined: Your Interpretations Of What It Means To Experience Joy ...
Huffington Post
Happiness, as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it, is "a state of well-being and contentment." Sure, that's one way to put it. But what does it really mean to feel on top of the world or entirely at peace with oneself? Do you feel immersed in joy ...


Regina Leader-Post

U of R economics prof looks at happiness, beer (with interactive) - Leader Post
Regina Leader-Post
However, prior to the field trip, Childs was at the brewpub on Thursday night to speak at the Science Pub Series on another of his research interests - the economics of happiness. Not surprising, the economics of beer and happiness are related. An ...

and more »

Bangkok Post

Heartbreak & Happiness
Bangkok Post
It's hard to admit, but we all have experienced lovelorn moments. As much as we want to deny it, we've done the heartbreak routines. From internet stalking to binge eating, love lost can be cured by the tiniest peculiarity, and one of those purging ...


New technology developing a thermometer for happiness - USA Today
USA TODAY
Now two professors are tracking your happiness using a device called a hedonometer, which records and charts the global psyche in real time based on the millions of words posted to Twitter each day. Although some critics are skeptical about applying ...

Google News

Are You Getting in the Way?

Getting out of our busy mode and into our heart... Read More

Happiness - A Matter of Focus

Imagine for a moment you have been given a task.... Read More

Happy Talk and 3 Simple Secrets to Happiness

What is the one thing you want more than anything... Read More

The Voiceless

WE count the broken lyres that rest Where the sweet... Read More

How To Be Outrageously Happy

You can be as happy as you want whenever you... Read More

Getting To The Root Of Unhappiness

Many people live in clutter, emotionally eat themselves into overweight,... Read More

Breaking the Cycle

Breaking the cycle is a term we have all heard.... Read More

Self-Worthiness

Worthiness-word origin. Worth and worship both come from Old English... Read More

Who Is More Likely To Be Happy?

Here's a multiple choice question for you. Who is more... Read More

Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out

Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught... Read More

Inner Peace

Are you content and at inner peace?Or are you insecure... Read More

Reframing with NLP For Enhanced Happiness

I used to work for the Independent National Newspaper in... Read More

Happiness-Marriage-Love-Divorce-Suicide-Peace Within-college

Too many of us seem to think that there should... Read More

A Great Life? How to Score Your Life

Is your life really the life you want?Quickly determine how... Read More

Get Right! Make a Difference

Want to make a difference? What can one person do?... Read More

True Happiness

Most people look outside of themselves as the cause of... Read More

It?s Good to be Goofy

To paraphrase a saying my mother liked to use occasionally,... Read More

Follow Your Bliss

Gail was a quiet, shy, young lady. She has been... Read More

Suffering and Happiness

The one feature that sets life on Earth apart from... Read More

OBSCURED (Angel)

Being raised in a household without a mother or a... Read More

Being Together

When it comes to happiness, togetherness is probably the most... Read More

Principles of Human Misery / Happiness

Sometimes we are so occupied with our daily routine in... Read More

Life Purpose: How To Be in Love with Life

Falling In Love with LifeThere is no feeling in the... Read More

Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life

A friend once said to me, "There is no meaning... Read More

7 Unique Ways To Make Someone Smile

Do you want to put a smile on someone's face?... Read More