The way we perceive our problems - perceive being the key word -, and the importance we give to them, determines how we will deal with them and determines our happiness. Why?
Because the world is a reflection of our mind. We can see a world full of problems; we can focus on the negative and only see what is wrong.
What Do You Concentrate On
I once read a story about a beautiful Christmas tree which had over 12,000 lights on it. The tree was amazing. But, there was one light that was out. So do you focus on the 11,999 lights that are sparkling in the night or do you focus on the one light that is out.
On the other hand we can see a world filled with challenges with the realization we have the capacity to overcome them. To make this point read the wisdom of Jim Rohn, "To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask?"
Can You See A Solution?
We can let our problems depress us, or we can accept life's challenges and deal with them as they occur. We can turn our focus to looking for the positive in the problem, and, there is a positive to every problem, sometimes you just have to stop and look for it. Richard Bach once said, "Every problem has a gift for you in its hands."
We have the ability to determine our happiness hour-by-hour and day-by-day, through our thoughts and actions. We make that choice every morning when we get out of bed. We can choose to look forward to the day, or we can choose to moan and complain. It's your choice!
To Give Is One Key
There is one thing for sure in this life. It is that you cannot give your happiness responsibility to someone else no matter what you believe. It is your responsibility and yours alone. To make a person happy is more a matter of what you do with your life than what you receive from life. Happiness is more a matter of inner satisfaction and the ability to look beyond your own needs whether that is fancy things, or the latest technological devices for the home.
Look Inside For Clues
Happiness is a need to put yourself in front of people you care about and let them know it by what you say and do not by what they can do for you. It is much like asking a baby to walk when they are only ready to crawl. Their ability to walk is within and not what someone else demands.
Some fantastic marketers would have us believe that by buying their products we will be much happier. The cosmetic market is one area that comes to mind where companies sell their products, especially to women, by telling them how much more beautiful they will look and therefore how much happier they will be with their appearance. It is not what we look like, smell like, talk like, or what we own that creates happiness. It is the opposite. It is within each of us to develop a level of happiness by what we stand for, what we call ethics of a personal nature, or how we see and help our children develop.
Do Not Pass On Life
Do not let anyone or anything outside of your own control tell you or suggest to you what will make you happy. That decision of what is happiness is up to you and you alone to create and cherish.
Jack Brown's quote summarizes this thought well, "Happiness is not the absence of problems; but the ability to deal with them."
So if you think you are unhappy because of your problems, think again.
