I’ve received some pretty nasty messages over the last several years… most of which I choose to simply not respond to (sometimes the best response is just not responding at all….), and when I do respond it’s typically as I did above (one time I told someone that I pray they find internal happiness, since it’s obvious that they aren’t happy right now…. that made them pretty mad….). The message that I’m sharing today was one I received early on a Friday morning, several weeks ago. The contents of it weren’t important to the post I’ve been meaning to share for a few weeks now. And even the apology isn’t the important part of the message. What struck me about the individual’s response was that she found my approach to life “positive.” I scratched my head for a moment when I read that (and btw, I did respond to her saying that I appreciated the kind message and that I hoped she was having a better weekend….). Being an overly positive person isn’t something I ascribe to myself readily. Other words, yes, positive, not really. I’m not a negative person by any means, but seeing the positive in a negative situation isn’t something I’m known to do first…..

When TJ and I were talking about that message later in the evening, we got to chatting about choices. Happiness is ultimately a choice we get to make daily, regardless of our circumstances in life. I’ve met some of the most positive + happy people who have, what most would consider, nothing to be positive or happy about. Yet they remain optimistic…. while still acknowledging their own feelings. You can have an overall positive + happy disposition and still have moments of sadness, anger, and frustration. That’s just life…. they’re just able to hold those negative feelings + see the good at the same time….

For me personally, positivity and happiness are both something I either consciously choose to have, or not have, on a daily basis. I know on the days that I am constantly seeing the negative in situations + have an overall negative disposition that I am making that choice. That I could easily choose to focus on something, anything, good in the day (or situation). And to be honest, sometimes I choose to be negative. Hence the scratching of my head when someone mentioned my positivity.

As I thought more about it, I was able to identify four distinct mind sets that clearly delineate a day with positivity + happiness

When I choose to frame my day in the ways below, it’s just a better day all around. Not because of the events within the day, but because of the internal choices I made…..

1. It’s A Choice: The saying “You’re one choice away from happiness,” is so true. You either choose it or you don’t. It’s really that simple. No one can take away, or give you, happiness. It has to come from within, and has to be a conscious decision daily. We are responsible for our own happiness, no one else…. not our significant others, children, friends, co-workers, etc….

2. Life Is Temporary: If there is anything we can count on in life it’s that everything is temporary. Everything…. the good, the bad, it all comes and goes… sometimes one lasts longer than the other, but nothing is permanent. If I don’t like a certain aspect of my life, it’s up to me to somehow change it. Just the other night I was complaining to TJ that I felt I just didn’t have time to do anything anymore. After that conversation I decided that I just needed to be more flexible, plan a little better, and just make it happen. So yesterday, instead of moving a little more leisurely in the morning, I hoped into the shower right after my workout + we were dressed and ready to leave the house by 8:45am…. which ultimately gave us an extra two hours to enjoy time outside the house. I chose to make the change I wanted to see….

3. Bad Moments vs. Bad Days: When I’m choosing to not have a good day, I also choose to see the day as an entirety as bad. When I’m choosing to have a good day, I choose to find good moments within a rather challenging day. It could be something as small as “I had a really good lunch….”

4. Gratitude: Plain + simple, the more we choose to focus on the things we have been given, versus what we don’t have, the happier we will be. If you’re too busy being happy + enjoying the blessings you’ve been given then there is little time to be upset about what you don’t have…..

Plain and simple, happiness is something that we wake up and make a choice to have everyday.

Sharing yesterday’s photo… out of the house by 8:45 for a fun day with my mom, sister, and Camille. Making a few simple changes resulted in a fun day out…. 

(Leggings, Top, Mules, Belt Bag, Harper’s Shorts, Harper’s Tee, Stroller)