“Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not.” — Valerie Bertinelli
I have found that there are two types of people in this world.
Those who choose to be happy and those who choose not to be.
I have always wondered why some of people choose happiness, while others don’t?
Why don’t we all choose to be happy?
And, what do the people who chose to be happy do differently?
Here is what I have found.
They Have Goals
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. — Zig Ziglar
Happy people are always working toward meaningful goals in life.
While they care about outcomes, they are more concerned with who they are becoming than where they are going.
They Follow Their Passion
“Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams.” — Donovan Bailey
Happy people have the ability to find and pursue their passions in life.
They have found a way to tailor their lives in a way that allows them to spend their time doing what they love.
Don’t get me wrong, they work hard and make sacrifices along the way, but while doing the things that they love the most.
They Choose Their Friends Carefully
“You are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn
Happy people know that their friends can either be a positive or negative influence on their lives.
They are happy because they surround themselves with positive and optimistic people who help them reach their goals.
They Are Grateful For What They Have
“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.” — Will Arnett
Happy people appreciate what they already have in life.
They are content with what they have and they count their blessings instead of lusting after the next shiny object.
They don’t feel like that have to go out and buy things to be happy. They are genuinely thankful for the things that they have already been blessed with.
They Serve Others
“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” — Leo Tolstoy
Happy people are always helping others.
They know that there is a strong association between helping others and being happy.
They have found that serving others is a great way to experience positive changes in their own lives.
They Accept What They Can’t Change
“Happiness can exist only in acceptance.” — George Orwell
Happy people know that there are some things that are out of their control.
Things they can not change.
Instead of fighting these situations, they have learned to accept things as they are and make the best of the situation.
They Focus On Their Health
“Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. If you have a healthy lifestyle, your diet and nutrition are set, and you’re working out, you’re going to feel good.” — Jason Statham
Happy people know that taking care of their health is important.
They spend time working on both their physical and mental health.
They eat right, exercise, and manage their stress.
They know that taking care of their body affects their energy levels, ability to focus, and their feelings.
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Originally published at medium.com