“Be happy, not because
everything is good,
but because you can see
the good side of everything.” 
Helen Barry

There are times when life is not easy. Some days (or weeks, or months) can be difficult for us. We have to remind ourselves that to experience and truly appreciate happiness in life, we must endure the constant challenges and occasional periods of sadness which enter our lives. That’s just the way it is.

Author Henry Ward Beecher tells us, “The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.” We are all capable of doing this, if we make the effort to do so. Watching small children playing at the local park, seeing an elderly neighbor out walking her dog, observing the change of seasons in the autumn trees, enjoying the spectacular color show of a November sunset — all of these are potential triggers for our happiness. Why, then, is it so difficult for some individuals to embrace happiness in their lives?

President Abraham Lincoln had a thought about this. He said, “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” This is an interesting claim, as it seems to indicate that happiness is a choice, a decision, rather than the byproduct of whatever is happening in our life at a particular time. 

Brian Vaszily is an author and motivational speaker. He wrote, “If being happy is important to you, try this: instead of regretting all you lack, celebrate all you’ve got.” While I think this is a worthwhile recommendation, I think it’s significant to point out that he began this statement with a reference to happiness being a choice. “If being happy is important to you…” seems to indicate that we have control over our own happiness.

So even if we are not financially well-off, even if we don’t live in a two million dollar home, even if our friends earn more in their jobs than we do or have a more prestigious job title or drive a nicer car, we can still choose to be happy with our life as it is. If we can discipline ourselves to take life one day at a time, to be grateful for what we do have, and to avoid getting stressed over those things we cannot control, we, too, can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being happy. The “secret” to being happy is accepting where we are in life and doing everything within our power to make the most out of every day.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “The habit of being happy enables one to be freed, or largely freed, from the domination of outward condition.” This is definitely within our control.

When we make the choice to be happy, to be positive, and to be grateful, then we are in control of how we are going to live our life — and this has a huge impact on the way we present ourselves to others and interact with those around us. 

Perhaps the words of singer Bobby McFerrin can help us all to cope with the inevitable challenges of life: “Don’t worry, be happy.”