What makes you happy?  Do you know what makes you happy?  For example, right now, can you change your emotional state if necessary to make yourself happy?  Is there anything that others can do that makes you happy or sad?  If so, why do the behaviors of others have an impact on your current emotional state of happiness?

Suppose you are travelling on a far away trip.  You plan the trip, for instance, the mode of transportation, lodging, the dates, etc.  For most people, when travelling on a vacation they generally have an idea of where they are going, when they will be going, and how they will get there.

So, maybe you should use the same approach to happiness.  Happiness is in itself a “destination” or a beacon.  When you are at that destination you are in a state of happiness.   However, that state of emotion can change in an instant, and you will once again need to work to get back to “happiness.”

However, for many they have no idea how to get to that state once they are whisked away from it – usually with something someone else said or did.  When you are pulled away from the “happiness state” you need to have a plan for your quick return.

So, we ask, “what makes you happy?”  It could be playing with your dog, holding your toddler,  reading a book, taking a bath, running, walking, jumping, dancing or just about anything.  It might be sitting quietly, by yourself and letting the emotions pass “through you” so you may once again see the happiness that you have inside.

The key is for you to create a plan, that you may use when you get pulled away from the “happiness island” and back to the muck of the world.  We are not saying the world is “mucky,”  but rather parts of it appear to be undesirable .  Those parts are really your life.  However, the interesting thing is you are the only one who sees your “muck” while others see something else.

The other interesting thing is that you do not need to see any “muck” at all!  When you are on the “happiness island” you are going about your life, your job, and your day like you always have, but you are in a different state of mind.  When you are in the happiness state, you do not see the “muck,” or if you do see it, you let it pass by you.

Happiness is a state of mind, which becomes your reality.  When you are in a fresh and positive state of mind, that is all you see in your world.  When you get pulled back into the negative state of mind, you begin to see the “muck” in your life.

So, once again, we say for you to create a plan of action when you feel yourself leaving “happiness island” so that you may quickly return.  As we mentioned, a good place to start is to take a few minutes to be by yourself, close your eyes and ask yourself if this is how you care to spend these moments of your life.  If not, figure out a small step back towards “happiness island” and begin that journey.  A journey that may be only a few steps in length.

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Happiness is a gift that you provide to yourself.  No one else can give it to you, and no one else can take it away.  Happiness is your choice and yours alone.

Written Thu Mar 20, 2014, 7:39 – 7:51 AM MT