Is Happiness A Choice? 5 Easy Ways To Help You Be Happier

It’s controversial to say that happiness is a choice.

But I’m not speaking to people who are seriously ill, live in a warzone, or have their existence threatened in another way.

I am speaking to those of us who are privileged enough to have a steady income, a healthy body, and a roof over our heads – people who don’t lack anything but still struggle to be happy.

We are accustomed to seeking out the negative.

We find it easier to criticize, rather than keep an open mind.

Random things like traffic or the weather hold our happiness hostage, while we ignore everything else in our lives that can bring us joy.

Choosing happiness is not about toxic positivity.

You don’t have to gaslight yourself into being happy all the time. You are allowed to be unhappy.

But if you’re reading this, chances are high that you’ve had one too many unhappy days, and you’re ready to change.

5 Actions That Can Help You Choose Happiness

Here’s how you can invite more positivity into your everyday life.

1. Have a gratitude ritual in the morning and before bed

A gratitude ritual can help you start and end your day on a positive note.

It can be as simple as taking a minute to think about all the things you’re grateful for, such as:

• I’m so thankful that I have a warm bed to sleep in.
• I’m so thankful to have a job.
• I’m so thankful to have friends and family that care about me.
• I’m so thankful to be healthy.

Being thankful for the “little” things that you take for granted can shift your mood and help you realize that you’re more fortunate than you thought.

2. Complain less

Complaining has a purpose.

But there’s a difference between venting to get something off your chest and constant complaining.

Try to become mindful of this habit so you can change how much focus you put on situations that frustrate you.

In many cases, complaining is a way for us to bond with others.

It might be necessary for you to avoid certain people or change the topic of the conversation when you catch yourself complaining.

This is not to say you should never talk about your problems. The issue is not in what you talk about but in the how and how often.

If you notice that you keep talking about the same problems, you might need to ask yourself whether you’re actually looking for a solution or just an opportunity to complain.

3. Reframe your thoughts

We often complain about the smallest inconveniences that we can easily reframe as positive things we can be thankful for.

The next time you wake up and dread going to work, try to reframe your thoughts as: “I get to have a job.”

(If you ever experienced losing your job and having little to fall back on, this won’t be a hard exercise for you.)

The goal is to reframe your thoughts so that you turn a source of frustration into a source of gratitude.

Also, pay attention to how many times you start sentences with “I hate”.

It might seem minor, but you’re bound to be in a foul mood if you keep bringing up every little thing that annoys you.

4. Filter social media

Many people use social media on autopilot.

But if you pause and analyze the content you’re consuming, you’ll notice that a lot of it focuses on negativity.

That’s why filtering negativity from social media can contribute immensely to your happiness.

You can start by taking stock of the accounts you follow and the websites you check daily.

Are they a constant stream of pessimism and criticism? Maybe it’s time to mute some of them.

You can also make it harder for yourself to check certain apps by removing them from your home screen.

You’ll be amazed when you realize how often you use some apps just because you see them on your home screen!

5. Understand how much it costs you to be unhappy

Frustration, bitterness, and all-around bad vibes aren’t just making you miserable. They’re also hurting your relationships.

It’s hard to be there for others when you’re in an emotionally bad place. It impacts your ability to be a good friend, partner, or coworker.

People might start avoiding you because they don’t know how to deal with your bad mood.

Not to mention that you’re robbing yourself of a happier life.

Look back on the past 12 months and try to remember how you felt during the majority of that time period.

If the emotions that come up are mostly negative, then you’ve already spent too much time being unhappy.

It’s not just about feeling miserable every day – when you’re unhappy, you’re more likely to become a pessimist that lets opportunities pass you by.

Pessimism is more poisonous than people realize.

When we assume that things will end badly, that life is inherently unfair, then there’s no point in changing anything.

And that’s how we give our power away and miss out on experiences that make life worth living.

So whenever you can, choose happiness and know that it’s a decision you will never regret.