Depression is at least one of the top five diseases that happen in the world today. I think one of the biggest reasons people have unhappy days is because of so much corruption, exploitation, and fear in the world, that they have stopped desiring to be happy. They fear it.
For example, my dad reads the newspaper everyday so many of the times, I was influenced by the news. Every time he passed me the newspaper, there was always something depressing that happened. People stole things from others, people getting killed, war breaking out, schools shutting down, and people getting kicked out of their homes. When my mind saw this, there was absolutely no way to be happy for the remainder of the day. Why?
Well, to be blunt, I felt guilty.
I felt that if any day or time I felt too happy, karma would come back and hit me. It was wrong to be too happy because I would eventually sink back down so it would be safer to stay slightly depressed. Now when I think back during those times, I shake my head as it was my choice to think like that, and that is why I had those unhappy days!
I think a lot of people go through this state also. Maybe you’re in line to by coffee or you’re at work waiting for the fax machine and somebody compliments you, you may have a common instinct that dismisses them for being polite. This happens to us often, but it really roots down to how we feel about ourselves. And if we always dismiss other people for complimenting us, how in the world are we supposed to have a happy day? Next time, accept the compliment and instead smile, say thank you, and let it in.
Here are some examples how you can look at your day.
- Today sucks. / Today rocks!
- Nobody likes me. / I love everybody!
- I never get the breaks. / Breaks come to me all the time!
- He/she can but I can’t. / I will learn from others who can!
- Business is bad. / I will find a way to make my business better!
- Everything is going to go wrong. / Everything in my life has potential to go right!
- Everyone is against me. / People don’t understand me but I love myself!
- Time needs to go by faster. / I love the present moment!
- I am not going to succeed. / I will succeed!
- I can’t do it / I can do it!
Even if all else fails, you can at least look at the things you have right now. It may not be much, but if you have the ability to reach this on a computer and have internet access, you have more than a lot of the world. Be grateful that you have a roof over your head right now and have accessible food near you. Even though it might not be delicious, it still can keep you from starving.
When we focus on what we don’t have, it is natural that we will feel unhappy. When we are unhappy, we struggle to become happy. This becomes a trap we fall into or a cycle. When we focus on what we do have, even if it’s a little bit, we go into a positive state. It is above the neutral scale. This makes it easier to be happy and attract more happiness.
You can kind think picture a black line in front of you. It represents neutrality. Even if you are rich, but still obsess about chasing something nicer, you will be under the line and it will make you unhappy, as that’s where your thoughts are placed. If you are poor, but you are glad for what you have, you will be slightly above the line, but at least you’ll be happy.
It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, black or white, young or old, or sexy or not sexy at all (me), happiness is a state of our mind. Whatever is happening to you on the outside, you have freedom to choose what is going on in the inside. As simple as it is, people think happiness has to be something complicated. They think it can’t be this easy to achieve happiness, and because they are thinking like this, they are getting what they have stated for themselves.
One final tip is that you can always start your day out happy. You can create a mantra and say it to yourself as you wake up:
Today is going to be a new and wonderful day for me. I love today and there will not be another day like this one. Whatever I do I will prosper. Even if my attention starts to go away from that which is good and positive, I will bring it back to a good and lovely state. My soul is attracting to myself all the things that bless and prosper me. I am going to do wonderful things today. I am definitely going to be happy all day because I love living!
Okay, so I know that sounds a little bit cheesy, but it works if you believe it does. Most people start their day and begin it with an attitude that automatically is destined to go in a downwards spiral. They may have the house, the car, the designer clothes, and the jewelry, but still be unhappy. It really comes down to one’s attitude. It doesn’t matter who you are of what you have, you have a choice! Make it a good one and you’ll find yourself to have more happy days.
photo credit: BL1961
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Tristan,
The word is full of… stuff. Good, bad. We as humans are the only living organisms which can consciously choose which one we think about and the meaning we give them. So, that’s more good news.
Have a happy day
Eduard
Hey Tristan great post you have here. It reminded me alot of myself when I experienced depression. I too was extremely influenced by the newspaper, which is why I don’t read it anymore. There is just too much focus on the corrupted parts of the word on simple pieces of paper.
I guess a lot of people get depression because the same negative things happen over and over again to them and they eventually lose hope (learned helpless) with certain aspects and situations with life. And when that mindset evolves overtime, it takes over their general philosophy of life (everything is meaningless).
It took me time to get past depression, meaning I had to train my mind to think otherwise. I did what you mentioned in your post, just repeat those positive phrases, and immerse myself with positive hope. It was hard, but I got over it.
I hope other people who are under that condition will get out of it.
Steven
Hey Eduard, I like the way you put that. The fact that human beings have a choice is good news. Thank you.
Hi Steven, wow thanks for sharing that. I’m glad we have something in common, even though it might have been a struggle, at least we both learned that happiness is definitely achievable as long as you keep going for it.
Hey Tristan, if only everyone realised that happiness was internal. I think that will be an end to some of the madness we see. Just as important were your opening comments – that we fear happiness. That is one very subtle roadblock – I was laughing when i found some of my own fears of happiness. I remember finding an unconscious fear of happiness once – “I can’t be happy because I will have nothing to blog about!” Haha!
Hehe, that’s a nice one Albert. I like what you said there, that if everybody realized happiness comes from the inside, we would have more peace in the world. Thank you for sharing this!
Nice article and you have clearly explained about depression, I really loved your article. What I think, really it doesn’t make any matter whether we are poor or rich, black or white, and happiness is a circumstance of our mind. We should always choose good news
Hi Chris. I agree with you. It doesn’t matter what circumstance we are in, we always have the option to choose, and choosing good news will more than likely lead to being more happy.
Luckily I have a wonderful wife and two amazing kids. Every day is a happy day for me!
great reframes there Tristan! I really like the one where nothing is going right in my life and I can reframe it as there as so many things that can potentially go right!
Thats our biggest human power. The ability to choose the way we feel about any situation.
great article!
Great attitude! I try to live like this everyday and it’s very hard at first because it doesn’t feel natural, but it does get easy overtime. To count your blessings, to remember what truly matters, to know that any negative thing or feeling you have in your life will eventually pass.
Hey Gabe, wow I would be happy too if I were in your situation.
Hi Rocky. I agree with that our biggest human power is the ability to choose and decide what we want for ourselves in any situation. Thank you.
Hello Belinda. Thanks for sharing that. Yes it definitely is hard to be happy when times tough, but when we keep persisting, eventually the tough times will pass making it easier for us.
it’s really hard to change the way you think if you still think you’re thinking
but people who come across your blog or similar blogs or programs can really accelerate the process of thinking the right way or not thinking they used to. They learn how being happy every day for no particular reason can influence their future and the future of the planet.
As you said, Tristan, gratitude is the best way to start.
wish you all the best and see you in the next post
Hey Florin, thanks for these kinds words. I do hope that my blog can help accelerate the process of thinking differently, especially when it comes to happiness.
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