Why being happy is a choice.

We often attach our happiness to the future obtainment of a material possession. We tell ourselves ‘I’ll be happy once I earn X amount/once my apartment overlooks the ocean/once I’ve there’s a Ferrari in my garage,’ But once we obtain it, we’re disappointed. And instead of realizing the flaw in our outlook and reframing our perspective, we continue the cycle of happiness-chasing, attaching it to something greater. ‘I’ll be happy once I double my earnings/once my mansion overlooks the ocean/once I have a different luxury car for every day of the week.’

There are 2 main problems with happiness-chasing:

1. We create such lofty expectations for how we’ll feel once we’ve achieved something, that when we get it - and it fails to live up to the hype - our actual feelings fall short of the mark. And so our happiness is overshadowed by disappointment.
2. Putting off our happiness prevents us from finding it in the here and now. Happiness can be found in the first sip of your morning coffee, in a hot shower on a cold day, as you sit down to watch your favorite TV show, after making a break-through on a mentally exhaustive project, amidst an inspiring conversation with a friend, as you take a bite from an expertly prepared meal, when your partner makes you laugh with that funny noise they make, when you pull on those jeans that fit you just right, or in the embrace of a loved one.

Being happy is as simple as acknowledging the good you already have. If you do it right now, you probably won’t feel it straight away, but give it time. With regular practice, it manifests into a general sense of contentment and joy.

Psychologists have conclusively determined that ‘counting our blessings’ enhances feelings of gratitude, optimism and life satisfaction.

Aspiring to achieve greatness is a noble feat, but unless you can acknowledge that which is already great, you’ll never truly be happy. 

What’s more, gratitude in the present creates a happiness reserve, readying you for the inevitable hard days ahead.