H is for Happiness

Happiness. How many of us seek happiness only to find misery? Did you know the misery we find can be found in our own minds?

I am a negative person at times (okay, most of the time). I have a hard time finding things to be happy about. But Himself has given me an interesting way of looking at things. He says it's helped him find happiness even on hard days.

Instead of looking at what's going wrong, at what you can't do, see instead how the problems can be beneficial for you. Instead of saying 'I can't', look for options. He says there are always options, even if they take you down a different road than where you were going in the first place.

I've watched him change over the years as this philosophy has given him strength. He's suggested I give it a try. I'm giving it a shot now. So far I've managed one day of looking at things through a positive light, though I had my moments of doubt. As I write this, I'm going on day two (this is being written on Saturday). I'm having a little trouble today but I'm looking for options to change that.

Now you could be thinking that we're different from you. That what works for us may not work for you. I thought the same way. I still think the same way when Himself offers me suggestions. But if you don't try, you'll never know.

There are things that we know will always bring us happiness. Reidar is one of those things for me. Writing – and editing – make me smile. Play time with Himself and watching movies with him. Taking walks in nature. All of these things make me happy.

There are many things that make you happy, and for some of you my suggestion isn't necessary because you have no trouble finding things to smile about, to be happy about, to drive off the negative. But for those like me, who see only the negative, who can't bring themselves to be happy, this suggestion might just be what you need.

Another thing that we focus on is how much things give us happiness. The more things we have the happier we are. I've learned over the last few years as the number of things I have has dwindled to almost nothing that I can still be happy without them.

Find your happiness. Put your joy and happiness in something other than stuff. Seek to eliminate most of your negative thoughts (I said most for a reason – negativity will slip through no matter what you do). Above all, be happy.

So what makes you happy?