PLOW your own happiness

Ranked #9,029 in Healthy Living, #149,831 overall

How do you find happiness in life

Perhaps it is because I am a gardener at heart, but for me the new year really begins in the Spring. Even though Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, I am beginning to see signs of Spring here in Kentucky. There are sprouts of that wonderful fresh spring green in my garden today. The sight of those hopeful leaf points makes me smile and reinvigorates me in a way that New Year's Day can never achieve.

So it seems natural to me to begin thinking in terms of gardening and farming. Also because I am happier it makes me want to spread the joy. I have come up with this four-step plan to help you achieve a happier life. The key to happiness is not difficult although it does seem to elude so many people. Here are my thoughts on happiness.
Tips
Advice

“If you want to be happy then the recipe is simple...”

Recipe For Happiness

-Plan For It
-Let It Happen
-Open Yourself To It
-Wave Good-bye To Your Unhappiness

Step One - Plan For It

Too many people expect to win happiness in the lottery of life. Happiness is not a prize, it is a goal. Happiness does not just happen, it must be welcomed. If you do not expect and look for happiness then you most likely are missing opportunities to be happy every day.

Make a life plan for your own happiness. What do you want? What will make you happy? Make a list, check it twice, and then move on to the next step.

Step Two - Let It Happen

Many people are afraid to be happy. They are unwilling to take risks or even make choices because all they can think about is the potential for loss. That is a perfect recipe for unhappiness.

If you are unable to put yourself in the way of happiness then you will miss it every time. Take a chance or make a choice. What is the worst that can happen? If you don't risk then you lose by default. If you risk then at least you have a chance at success.

Many people discover happiness during their pursuit - don't overlook that potential as well. Happiness can be found in unexpected places if you open yourself to opportunity, so move on to the next step.

Step Three - Open Yourself To It

The unhappy people that I know are usually unhappy for two reasons. One group believes they do not deserve happiness and the other group actually undermines their happiness by closing themselves off.

Everyone deserves to be happy and it makes me so sad when I see people settle for anything less. It also causes me worry because I believe that so much of what is wrong with our world today is caused by unhappy people. Happy people, as a rule, do not harm others. Happy people cause good things to happen which then creates more happy people. What a wonderful synergy!

I find the other group even sadder. It is bad enough to think you do not deserve happiness, but to actually refuse to allow yourself to be happy is definitely worse in my book. It is horribly destructive and obviously self-perpetuating, but some of these unhappy people, I believe, are to blame for the unhappiness of others - or at least contribute to it.

Step Four - Wave Good-bye To Your Troubles

One of the most frustrating things for me is when someone is unhappy about something specific - and yet they refuse to make a change to do away with the problem.

Your job makes you unhappy? Get a new one! Your husband makes you unhappy? Work on your relationship? Your child makes you unhappy? Correct their behavior.

I know it is not always that simple but even in the most desperate situations there is some element that is subject to change. Focus on that one area and you might find the whole picture changes. If you surrender to your unhappiness then it will take over, but fighting itgives you the potential to win your own happiness and change your life. I know which path I'll choose every day.

In the end you and you alone have the power over your own happiness. You choose to be happy or to be unhappy. Which will you choose?

PLOWing for happiness

If you want to be happy then the recipe is simple:

Plan For It
Let It Happen
Open Yourself To It
Wave Good-by To Your Unhappiness

If you can follow this plan then you can indeed PLOW your own happiness.

What do you think?

Do we control our own happiness?

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Of course

COUNTRYLUTHIER says:

Absolutely! Just like bear hunting requires the ability to know where bears are found, we have to know enough about us to know where our happines lies. Hanging out in happy country PLOWing will get us there. THanks for sharing this great lens!

Mark-Nehs says:

yep we decide.

ChrisDay says:

Absolutely. People can make you unhappy but they cannot make you happy. That comes from within.

kephrira says:

I think people often presume their happiness depends on external things more than it actually does. It's not easy to just choose to be happy, but its definitely more about the way you think than what you have or what situation you are in.

No way

 

Share your recipe for happiness!

  • DavidDove Sep 20, 2011 @ 10:53 am | delete
    a nice and timely reminder, thank you.
  • Mark-Nehs Feb 14, 2011 @ 9:29 pm | delete
    I love your lens. Thanks for making it!
  • ChrisDay Feb 4, 2011 @ 9:55 am | delete
    It is often a matter of emphasis - how much do we dwell on the things of which we are not too fond and how much do we take real pleasure in those things that we like and in so many of the simple gifts of life.
  • maxnic11 Dec 9, 2010 @ 7:49 am | delete
    Thanks for the inspiration!
  • Jewelsofawe Oct 14, 2009 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    This lens reminds me of my poem
    Endless Beauty

    Endless Beauty
    Dream%u2026
    Into being
    Happiness
    Of a garden
    Planted with seeds
    Of joy
    Growing into
    Full blooms
    Of peaceful contentment
    Blossoming
    Into light
    Filled of
    Endless beauty

    Great llens! Love it! Favoriited it and gave it 5 stars!
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