12 CHOICES FOR HAPPINESS

We need to choose to be happy every day - it doesn't just happen. This is my series on 12 choices for Happiness

KEEPING OUR HAPPINESS ALIVE

One of the most popular series of posts I wrote were the ones from last year on How I lost my happiness and how I found it again. I've been thinking about happiness a lot lately and how easy it is to lose it when we slip into bad habits or when we forget how to nurture it.

HAPPINESS REMINDERS 

So this August I thought I'd write a series of twelve posts on things we need to remind ourselves about when it comes to happiness. You'd think it would be simple and straightforward, but in my experience it's far from that - in fact it's a state of mind that I need to be vigilant in maintaining or I slip into the Grumpy Old Woman state - and that is NOT a place I want to visit for any length of time!

Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. #happinessquotes

I'm not sure why it's so hard to keep a grip on happiness. I think for me it's that constant seesaw between remembering that it's my responsibility to create my own happiness, and forgetting that fact and basing my happiness on other people and on my circumstances.

LOSING MY HAPPINESS

It's so easy for me to lose my sense of happiness when things aren't going as smoothly as I'd like with my family. When I have a hiccup along the way with my kids, or a difference of opinion with a friend, or worse yet - with my husband.

 I allow the stress of work to suck away my happiness, I allow my co-worker's problems and marital strife to impact on my thoughts. I have to keep reminding myself that it's her choices and her refusal to deal with the situation that are the basic problem - and that they are not my problems to solve.

Keep choosing happiness and happiness will keep choosing you - Fawn Weaver #happinessquotes

PEOPLE PLEASING

When you have that People Pleasing gene firmly inground into your psyche it is so hard to disconnect that from the people you are surrounded with. For me, it's a constant desire for everyone to be happy, everyone to like what I'm doing or saying, everyone to be satisfied and content. When there are glitches along the way I feel the happiness start to drain away. It's silly and it's something I know shouldn't happen, so I need to be watching for the signs of it and stopping myself from getting drawn too deeply into other people's dramas and upsets.

 So, August is going to be the month I remind myself about the choices I need to make in life to stay happy and to keep a smile on my face. It's a journey and maybe for some it comes easy, but for me it's a bit more up and down. I want more "ups" in my life and ultimately that's my responsibility - nobody can make me happy - it's up to me.

12 CHOICES FOR HAPPINESS

I hope you'll join me as I work my way through 12 Choices for Happiness - maybe it'll be a reminder for you too about how important it is to choose happiness every day - and to not let wrong choices or negative influences drain our happiness from us.

 To make it a little bit easier, here are the links to the 12 Choices for Happiness:



We need to choose to be happy every day - it doesn't just happen. This is my series on 12 choices for Happiness
We need to choose to be happy every day - it doesn't just happen. This is my series on 12 choices for Happiness

This post was shared at some of these great link parties
To keep up to date with my posts, feel free to add your email into the spot especially for it on my sidebar and I'd love you to follow me on Facebook
Posted by at
Labels: ,

42 comments

  1. Unknown2 August 2017 at 17:57

    Happiness is very important Leanne and I look forward to reading your thoughts this month!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne2 August 2017 at 21:55

      Thanks Deb - I think we get so caught up with other people and "stuff" and risk losing our happiness in the process. I thought it was a good time to remind myself to be responsible for my own happiness.

      Delete
  2. Melody Smith 2 August 2017 at 19:52

    I'm usually a pretty happy person - until I'm not. You reminded me of the little things that I allow to affect my happiness. I'm looking forward to reading your series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne2 August 2017 at 21:55

      I hope you like it Melody - it's a constant struggle for me to not let life's ups and downs suck the happiness out of me - I thought it was time to give myself a reminder or two!

      Delete
  3. Shirley Corder2 August 2017 at 22:09

    Loved this post. Thanks for the reminder Leanne, that being happy is a CHOICE.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne3 August 2017 at 19:19

      Thanks Shirley - I think it's so important to be reminded about maintaining our happiness - it's so easy to slip into the doldrums if we're not careful.

      Delete
  4. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond3 August 2017 at 04:12

    Great subject Leanne and I'm looking forward to reading your 12 choices for happiness. There are so many things in life that we have a Choice about and Happiness is definitely one of them. I've written about this before and it always is a good reminder to myself. Have a VERY HAPPY DAY! XX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne3 August 2017 at 19:20

      I think we've both been big advocates of happiness Sue - it's a big part of the whole Midlife celebration isn't it? Discovering what makes you happy and doing more of that!

      Delete
  5. Debbish3 August 2017 at 11:10

    Great idea Leanne and I SO hear you on the subject of 'choosing' happiness and I also find I'm able to 'lose' my happiness more quickly than I'd like. #teamlovinlife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne3 August 2017 at 19:21

      I'm the same Deb - I think I have it all figured out and BAM something hits my from left of centre and I'm all weepy. At least I recognize what's happening and that it's my responsibility to do something about it and not let it eat away at me.

      Delete
  6. Min - Write of the Middle3 August 2017 at 13:08

    You're so right Leanne. Happiness is a choice and we have to keep vigilant about it. I lost my happiness too and I worked very hard to get it back. I lose it again now and then though. I have this problem of absorbing the problems and misery of others and it affects my state of mind. I'm a nurturer and care very much about people but sometimes it is to my own detriment. You covered some very good points here! Thanks for the reminder! Really looking forward to your series. :-) #TeamLovinLife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne3 August 2017 at 19:22

      I'm the same Min (I think we may have been separated at birth!) Even after all the pain of finding my way back to happiness, it only takes the dramas or upsets of others to start denting me and dragging me down. It's something that I work on constantly because I don't want to go back to being sad again.

      Delete
  7. Unknown3 August 2017 at 13:57

    I generally choose to be happy. There is nothing to be gained by being morbid and miserable. There is already too much negativity around. I like to tell myself every single day how lucky I am and how thankful I am to be me! #TeamLovinLife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne3 August 2017 at 19:23

      You're so right Kathy - it really is all about our attitude and choosing to look on the bright side as often as possible. I remind myself quite often that I am truly blessed and that helps a lot.

      Delete
  8. Lyndall @SeizeTheDayProject3 August 2017 at 15:57

    Being happy is high on my list of priorities. I've backed off on the people pleasing, after practicing the skill for many years, and now ask myself if I'm happy first. Gratitude is so important too :) #TeamLovinLife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne3 August 2017 at 19:24

      One of the Choices I'm doing is on gratitude Lyndall - it's such a big factor in happiness - and definitely getting off the people pleasing bus is a major step in finding our happiness mojo.

      Delete
  9. JulieO3 August 2017 at 21:16

    It really IS a choice. I've always been a pretty happy person, myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JulieO3 August 2017 at 21:17

      somehow i can't get the profile name to change. it's me, carol cassara!

      Delete
    2. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:12

      Hi Carol - I know it's your secret spy name and it gives me a smile when it pops up in my comments :D

      Delete
  10. Jodie's Touch of Style3 August 2017 at 21:38

    There are days it's harder to make this choice---but I have to think that seeing that photo with the paint splattered on those faces could make anyone happy!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:13

      I think I might have to add a colour run (or walk) onto my bucket list because the colour splats look like a lot of fun don't they?

      Delete
  11. TransitioningMom3 August 2017 at 23:15

    Perfect timing for this one for me. I consider myself an optimist, but like many, can get sucked into the vortex of negativity at times. Looking forward to following your 12 step posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:14

      I get sucked down too - especially if someone close to me is hurting or causing drama - it's hard to smile your way through it, but being miserable doesn't solve it either.

      Delete
  12. Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit4 August 2017 at 04:32

    Perfect quotes and oh so true #teamlovinlife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:14

      Thanks Leanne - I loved the quotes and they're a great reminder that ultimately we're reponsible for our own happiness every time.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous4 August 2017 at 06:24

    Signing up to follow these posts. I tend to be mostly positive, but have a habit of absorbing whatever others are going through. I feel more content and happier now since moving - I suspect that's because I don't have the happiness vampires sucking at me. Jo @ #TeamLovinLife

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:15

      Hi Jo - I love that you've signed up (my subscriber numbers are pretty pitiful) and I hope you enjoy the posts - I think distancing yourself from the happiness suckers is a good start :)

      Delete
  14. Terri Webster Schrandt4 August 2017 at 10:02

    Happiness is indeed a choice, Leanne! I struggled for years with people pleasing, and I am on the verge of letting this go. I'm naturally a happy, positive person anyway. With some of the adversity I felt in July, I got an even bigger surprise when I tripped and fell yesterday while walking my dogs...yep, fractured right hand...I can still use my fingers to type!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:16

      I can't believe you "had a fall" Terri! So sorry about your hand but nice that there is a silver lining in there that you can still type :) And I so get you about the people pleasing thing - definitely a drawback for our generation.

      Delete
  15. Retiring Not Shy!4 August 2017 at 11:55

    Looking forward to following along and seeing what choices you make. What a great way to structure your month Leanne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:17

      Thanks guys - hope you get a few smiles/tips out of it along the way.

      Delete
  16. Sydney Shop Girl4 August 2017 at 17:51

    What an exciting series, looking forward to reading more.

    SSG xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:17

      I'd love you to come along and join the party - nothing like some happiness to bring the sunshine in an Aussie Winter :)

      Delete
  17. sassytownhouseliving4 August 2017 at 20:10

    Excited to read more! Yes, happiness is a choice and even in the hardest of times, it's up to us to keep our spirits up and move forward!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanne4 August 2017 at 20:18

      It took me a long time to figure out that it's my responsibility - but that actually works well for me now because there's no point blaming everyone else, I just need to put on my big girl panties and move forward with a smile!

      Delete
  18. Anonymous7 August 2017 at 05:16

    Sounds like it will be a great series! I've seen people who have seemingly insurmountable financial, family, or health challenges who appear to be happy. Then, I've seen people who seem to have all kinds of advantages and blessings and who do not appear to be happy. Life really is what you make of it. Thank you for linking up at The Blogger’s Pit Stop Link Party. I’m sharing your link on social media.
    Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  19. Random Musings11 August 2017 at 22:12

    I totally agree - happiness is a choice, but it can be something that we forget and then we find our happiness slipping away. Sounds like a great series, looking forward to it!
    Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes :)
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  20. I.V. Everts15 March 2019 at 21:09

    Hi, Leanne, I relate wholeheartedly to what you write and how hanging on to happiness is so hard. I live in Italy where we are in an enormous economic crisis. I lost my job. I do write which gives me great satisfaction. I am waiting for my second book to go to press soon. But this getting older, sometimes does not sit well with me. I lived a life full of excitement, travel and choices. I probably exhausted my guardian angel. Now a lifestyle like that is no longer possible, nor would I fit in. But something in me is always looking back and miss that 'I do what I want' girl. Ageing is hard, not as hard as it was for our mothers and grandmothers, but still...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond28 April 2019 at 14:39

    Hi BBB, happiness is relative isn't it? Sometimes I find contentment and happiness just looking at my grandsons. When life gets tough it is easy to forget that happiness comes from within and we make our own happiness. Thanks for the reminder. xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Kathleen10 September 2019 at 17:36

    Leanne, our Julie has chosen this inspiring post, series to be featured in the next Blogger's Pit Stop.
    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jules11 September 2019 at 00:14

    This truly touched me and I totaly am taking the tips in. Thanks Sue xoxo

    Jules from the Pit Stop

    ReplyDelete
  24. Deb's World18 July 2022 at 17:52

    Such great reminders Leanne, it's up to us how we choose our happiness. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)