How To Be Happy

Posted on March 20, 2010 by Eleni Zoe| 11 Comments

The ubiquitous ‘they’ say that happiness is a choice.

But if like me, you tend to migrate towards depression, you know that it’s not that simple. Over the last two weeks, I tried to choose happy in the morning. By every afternoon, I had failed.

Yesterday I decided that happy was a lofty goal. So I made this decision instead–

(I’m ambitious like that.)

And you know what?

I feel so much better.

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11 Responses to How To Be Happy

AfterGirl | March 20, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Reply

Happiness is a choice, I choose to take mood altering drugs so I can be happy. Wow you are so right that it is not tat easy for those of us with chronic depression.

Be happy, get drugs :-)
Curvy Jones | March 20, 2010 at 3:57 pm | Reply

Yeah I get a little stabby when people insist that happy is a choice. If I could choose to be happy, I would Happy is a state of being and a goal of a place to get to. Not so much a choice, anymore than depression is a choice.

Good on you for aiming for ‘not sad’. It’s def a pitstop on the way to Happy.
Paula | March 20, 2010 at 6:32 pm | Reply

I recently decided to just generally try and be a bit more positive about things or at least PRETEND I am – a whole “fake it to make it” type of approach.

It’s actually sort of working.

I’m pretty amazed.
myself | March 20, 2010 at 7:40 pm | Reply

Yeah, “happy is a choice”. What if you’re not the type to be “shiny happy”? I’m not. I am never going to be the one to run around screaming “I’m so happpyyyy!!!” and feel like a complete idiot when I smile at people and I’m not feeling it.
A Little Coffee | March 20, 2010 at 8:01 pm | Reply

This post made me smile :)
Jamie | March 21, 2010 at 1:22 am | Reply

The wise Barney Stinson once said: When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.

It’s a good motto that I’ve been trying to stick to lately :)
amber | March 21, 2010 at 4:58 am | Reply

I’m taking a cue from you and going to try and be not sad. Thanks for the inspiration.
Alexia | March 21, 2010 at 1:28 pm | Reply

Not all ubiquitous people are ‘shiny happy people’ when they say that. Au contraire- I think that PRECISELY because you, I, we are not SHPs, the decision to be content is more important. People who don’t stray towards Depression don’t need to think about being happy, they just are.

Jamie right. I am full of wise words. Just one more way to be awesome.
Miss A | March 22, 2010 at 1:03 pm | Reply

The belief that believing yourself into happiness I think has some, but limited merit. Most days, this works for me, or at least, is enough to make me feel better that I’m TRYING, and I think the EFFORT, to some extent, makes me feel a little happier.

I am going to road-test your theory x
Ashalah | March 24, 2010 at 5:44 am | Reply

I love this be not sad business. I’m kind of sad right now and trying to be happy isn’t working. So instead i will try being not sad.

Also, that quote Jamie left is a pretty good motto to live by. Being awesome is pretty great too. *hugs*
MC | March 27, 2010 at 2:13 am | Reply

I SO relate to this and so much of what you write. I too have had days where choosing NOT to be sad was as good as I had. I’m not always depressed…but I have my days. I love to write…just for fun…on blog that few people read. I had stopped writing…feeling uninspired…and you and your words inspired me to write again. Your writing truly touches me and your words make me feel like I’m not “alone” in my own insecurities and worries. Thank you Hope.