快乐是一种选择(HappinessIsaChoice)

　　Areyouhappy?Doyourememberatimewhenyouwerehappy?Areyouseekinghappinesstoday?Manyhavesoughtavarietyofsourcesfortheirfeelingofhappiness.Somehaveputtheirheartandeffortsintotheirwork.Toomanyturnedtodrugsandalcohol.Untoldnumbershavelookedforitinthepossessionofexpensivecars,exoticvacationhomes,andotherpopular"toys".

　　Mostoftheireffortshavearootinonecommonfact:peoplearelookingforalastingsourceofhappiness.Unfortunately,Ibelievethathappinessevadesmanybecausetheymisunderstandtheprocessandjourneyoffindingit.Ihaveheardmanypeoplesaythat,"l'IIbehappywhenIgetmynewpromotion,'or"1'IIbehappywhenIlosethatextra20pounds."Thisthinkingisdangerousbecauseitpresupposesthathappinessisa"response'tohaving,beingordoingsomething.Inlife,weallexperiencestimulusandresponse.Stimulusiswhenadogbarksatyouandbareshisteeth.Responseiswhenyourheartbeatsfaster,yourpalmsgetsweatyandyoupreparetorun.Today,somepeoplethinkthatanexpensivecarisstimulus.Happinessisaresponse.Agreatpayingjobisstimulus.Happinessisaresponse.Alovingrelationshipisstimulus.Happinessisaresponse.Thisbeliefleavesusthinkingandfeeling:"l'llbehappywhen..."Ithasbeenmyfindingthatactuallytheoppositeistrue.Ibelievethathappinessisastimulusandresponseiswhatlifebringstothosewhoaretrulyhappy.Whenwearehappy,wetendtohavemoresuccessinourwork.Whenwearehappy,peoplewanttobearoundusandenjoylovingrelationships.

　　Whenwearehappy,wemorenaturallytakebettercareofourbodiesandenjoygoodhealth.Happinessisnotaresponserather,itisastimulus.Happinessisaconsciouschoicewemakeeverydayofourlives.Forunknownreasonstome,manychoosetobemiserable,frustratedandangrymostofthetime.Happinessisnotsomethingthathappenstousafterwegetsomethingwewant--weusuallygetthingswewantafterwechoosetobehappy.Ihavemadeonlyonesimpleruleformyownhappiness:Everydayabovegroundisagoodday.Therefore,Itendtohavealotofgood(andhappy)daysinsuccession.