Happiness is a choice.

You ever wonder why so many people disagree with this? It’s because it’s not one. At least not at first. You have to lie to yourself for a very long time before those lies start to become truths, but in doing so, you’ll discover the power of choice.

A true choice is not taken on a whim. It’s a commitment. Anything else is false. If you’ve committed to your sadness, don’t expect your whim for happiness to work.

I don’t approach a body builder who’s made that true choice for his lifestyle and expect to lift as much as him just because I chose to at that moment. So why would I look at his accomplishment and tell him it’s not a choice? One he so clearly made.

If you’re depressed, you’re the bodybuilder of sadness. So I wouldn’t expect you to have any clue on how to be happy. Guess what? It’s just as hard as being miserable because just like anything you give yourself to, it’s a commitment. It’s not easy.

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WaryWitchWandering · 36-40, F

You’re not wrong…

Reject · 31-35, M

@WaryWitchWandering Witchy! Thanks for not feeling like I’m wrong in what genuinely works for me. I understand it won’t work for everyone. Someone’s mind is exceptionally powerful and can refuse any reality it’s present in. I just started training mine to use that ability for good instead of bad.

WaryWitchWandering · 36-40, F

@Reject I don’t think everyone is capable of this at all times

I’ve been through some stuff mentally that the mindset of “just try to be happy” never would have touched

But the more stable I get, I can try… I do see results when I can just let the fuck go

You know what I mean?

Reject · 31-35, M

@WaryWitchWandering Well, I’ll be honest with you. I’m most certainly not capable of it at all times. I agree. The mindset of trying to be happy didn’t work for me either. After I lost my dad when I was 7. It didn’t work for the next 20 years of my life. I had to lie to myself and say I could choose happiness when it was so obvious I couldn’t and it stayed that way for more years than I’d like to admit.

Like you, like everyone, I’m a work in progress but also like you, I’ve found many results and now? 8 out of 10 times I can choose happiness. Those 2 times I can’t? I keep faith until I do. That sure beats the 0 out of 10 times I dealt with before! We let go when there’s something more important to hold onto. I know you have that something.