Amidst the lockdown, many of us must have realized that we must reminisce and rediscover our own selves. Restricted within the four walls of our homes with severely curtailed movements, the pent-up energies were not always very positive. The joy, warmth and happiness seemed to be eluding sometimes and I remembered, "Please don’t mind! I am in a bit of a mood.” 
These words often slipped from my mouth as I remember when years ago, I was sent to a boarding school and was feeling sad and lonely without my parents. Often, I missed my parents and tears rolled down remembering the time I spent with them.
My dad had a transferable job, so I am sure it would have been equally a tough decision for my parents to send us away for the sake of us to getting good education and upbringing. But one day was a turning point in life as after a grilling hockey session (the school where I studied had different extracurricular activities other than studies to keep us busy). When I was getting inside the hostel sweating 
profusely, the hostel warden handed me a big card sent by my dad. He had distinct nice handwriting, so I didn’t take a minute to understand that it was my dad’s mail and my breathlessness vanished and I could instantly feel his warm hug.
Next moment, I ran to open my mail. My dad sent me a greeting card and a long letter. The card read "Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder” With all due respect my young mind got the message that you should not chase the butterfly but didn’t quite get how elusive butterfly will come and sit on my shoulder. How? However, in the personal letter the how part, was articulated in his simple letter. 
My dad had not only a beautiful handwriting but had the gift of gab, when it came to words and the emotions ran down. To put it in one line it was simply making the effort to monitor the workings of your negative thought in your mind and translating it to a positive action. He said never compromise on your own happiness and since then I have been always selfish about my smile. Is happiness a choice? Yes! I have come across many happy people realize happiness is a choice and it’s up to them to intentionally choose it every single day. 
Happy people are not held hostage by their circumstances, and they do not seek happiness in people or possessions understand that when we stop chasing the world’s definition of happiness, we begin to see the decision to experience happiness has been right in front of us all along. But simply knowing that happiness is a choice 
is not enough. Fully experiencing it still requires a conscious decision to choose happiness each day. How then might each of us begin to experience this joy?
All of us have two minds; one is the materialistic mind which tells us about the bills you must pay, the career ladder you have to climb etc., and the other is a spiritual mind which always guides you what is right path for you. I have learnt that you must learn to train your system to be able to clearly hear your inner voice. 
For every minute you are angry or irritated, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.  Be happy.  Be yourself.  If others don’t like it, then let them be.  Life isn’t about pleasing everybody. If you have the courage to admit when you’re scared, the ability to laugh even as you cry, the nerve to speak up, even if your voice is shaking, the confidence to ask for help when you need it, and the wisdom to take it when it’s offered, then you have everything you need to get yourself to a happier state of mind.

How to Choose Happiness Today
Embrace one new action item, practice all of them, or simply use them as inspiration to discover your own. Here are 8 simple ways to choose happiness today:

1. Count your blessings & choose to be the best You can be. – Give it you're all in everything you do, commit to your goals, and don’t compare yourself to anyone else.  John Wooden once said, “Success and happiness is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”  Never try to be better than anyone else, but never stop trying to be the best you can be.  If you feel called to compare yourself to someone, compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself. Happy people choose to focus on the positive aspects of their own life rather than the negative. They set their minds on specific reasons to be grateful. They express it when possible. And they quickly discover there is always, always, something to be grateful. Gratitude sent to the universe comes back to you multifold.

2. Choose to laugh and carry a smile with élan. A smile is a wonderful beautifier. A smile is a choice, not a miracle.  Don’t wait for people to smile. You make the first move. A genuine smile makes you and everyone around you feel better.  The simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you’re happy.  And when you’re happy, your body pumps out all kinds of feel-good endorphins. But more than that, studies indicate that making a happy emotion filled face carries influence over feelings processed by the brain. Our facial expression can influence our brain in just the same way our brains influence our face. In other words, you can program yourself to experience happiness by choosing to smile. Not to mention, all the pretty smiles most of the times, you’ll receive in return for flashing yours is also guaranteed to increase your happiness level. Be selfish about your smile.

3. Choose to wake up on your terms. Most of us have alarm clocks programmed in our minds because of the expectations of others: a workplace, a school, or a waking child. That’s probably not going to change. But that doesn’t mean we have to lose control over our mornings in the process. Wake up just a little bit early and establish an empowering, meaningful, morning routine. Start each day on your terms. The next 23 hours of you time will thank you for it. Affirmations are positive thoughts accompanied with affirmative beliefs and personal statements of truth. They are recited in the first person, present tense (“I am...”). Affirmations used daily can release stress, build confidence, and improve outlook. For maximum effectiveness,
affirmations should be chosen carefully, be based in truth, and address current needs. Just google affirmations and remember to say what you want to manifest in your life.

4. Choose to foster forgiveness and hold back a complaint.
The next time you want to lash out in verbal complaint towards a person, a situation, or yourself, don’t. Instead, humbly keep it to yourself. You’ll likely diffuse an unhealthy, unhappy environment. But more than that, you’ll experience joy by choosing peace in a difficult situation. Everyone wants to be treated kindly. But more than that, deep down, we also want to treat others with the same respect that we would like given to us. Treat everyone you meet with kindness, patience, and grace. The Golden Rule is a powerful standard. It benefits the receiver. But also brings growing satisfaction in yourself as you seek to treat others as you would like to be treated.

5. Choose to harness your strengths.
Practice one life-improving discipline. Each of us have natural talents, strengths, and abilities. And when we use them effectively, we feel alive and comfortable in our skin. They help us find joy in our being and happiness in our design. So, embrace your strengths and choose to operate within your giftedness each day. If you need to find this outlet outside your employment, by all means, find this outlet. There is happiness and fulfillment to be found in personal growth. To know that you have intentionally devoted time and energy to personal improvement is one of the most satisfying feelings you’ll ever experience. Embrace and practice at least one act of self-discipline each day. This could be exercise, budgeting, or guided learning… whatever your life needs today to continue growing. Find it. Practice it. Celebrate it.
Accomplish one important task each day because happy people choose happiness, they take control over their lives. They don’t make decisions based on a need to pursue joy. Instead, they operate out of the satisfaction they have already chosen. They realize there are demands on their time, helpful pursuits to accomplish, and important contributions to make to the world around them. Choose one important task that you can accomplish each day. And find joy in your contribution.

6. Choose to look after your body mind and spirit.
We are spiritual, emotional, and mental beings. We are also physical bodies. Our lives cannot be wholly separated into its parts. As a result, one aspect always influences the others. For example, our physical bodies will always have impact over our spiritual and emotional well-being. Therefore, caring for our physical well-being can have significant benefit for our emotional standing. One simple action to choose happiness today is to eat healthy foods. Your physical body will thank you… and so will your emotional well-being. Meditate. Finding me time in solitude. As our world increases in speed and noise, the ability to withdraw becomes even more important. Researches and studies confirm the importance and life-giving benefits of meditation. So, take time to make time. And use meditation to search inward, connect spiritually, and improve your happiness today.

7. Choose to welcome the next step in your life. 
You can hold on to the past, or you can create your own happiness today.  Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart.  Every day is a new beginning and a new ending.  Embrace it, make the best of it, smile, and keep looking straight ahead. And don’t forget, a smile doesn’t always mean a person is happy right now; sometimes it simply means they are strong enough to face their problems going forward. Search for benefit in your pain. This life can be difficult. Nobody escapes without pain. At some point—in some way—we all encounter it. When you do, remind yourself again that the trials may be difficult, but they will pass. And search deep to find meaning in the pain. Choose to look for the benefits that can be found in your trial. At the very least, perseverance is being built. And most likely, an ability to comfort others in their pain is also being developed. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy
"Intention is the active desire and commitment to be happy," they write. "It's the decision to consciously choose attitudes and behaviors that lead to happiness over unhappiness."

With this hope I leave you in-charge of your own happiness. 

Happiness is a choice - Start Today…..

 
Source: liberty of HR Thoughts