“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” said Abe Lincoln. But can one choose to be happy? Yes! Many happy people understand that happiness is a choice and that it is up to them to select it daily deliberately.

Those who are content with their lives do not let their circumstances dictate how they feel or look for enjoyment in other people or things. They recognize that when we stop seeking the happiness that the world defines, we realize that the choice to feel pleasure has always been available to us. This perspective is further supported by positive psychology research.

10 Ways to Choose Happiness Today

Being aware that happiness is a decision is insufficient. It still takes a conscious choice to choose happiness each day to experience it fully. So how might every one of us then start to feel this joy?

1. Be thankful for all you have

Happy people focus on the positive aspects of life rather than the negative. So, first, they set their minds on specific reasons to be grateful. Then, they express it when possible. And they quickly discover there is always something to be thankful for.

2. A smile is all you need

A smile is the most beautiful thing you can wear. But there's more to it than that: research suggests that how we express our feelings with our faces directly impacts how our brains interpret them. So, in the same way, our brains may move the emotion on our fronts, and our facial expressions also influence our brains. Put another way, by making the conscious decision to flash a smile, and you can train yourself to feel happier. Furthermore, your level of happiness is virtually certain to rise as a direct result of the numerous compliments you will receive from flashing your smile.

3. Affirm yourself daily

Affirmations are positive sentiments accompanied by affirmative beliefs and statements of truth that the individual speaks. When repeated daily, affirmations can relieve stress, increase confidence, and enhance attitude. Affirmations should be selected thoughtfully, founded in reality, and talk to the requirements of the present moment for them to be as powerful as possible.

4. Keep your complaint to yourself

Don't lash out in anger at someone, something, or yourself the next time you want to. Instead, please keep it to yourself humbly. You will almost certainly diffuse an unhealthy, unhappy environment. More than that, choosing peace in a difficult situation will bring you joy.

5. One life-improving discipline should be practiced

Personal development can bring happiness and fulfillment. Knowing that you have purposefully dedicated time and energy to your personal story is one of the most satisfying feelings you will ever have. So accept and put at least one act of self-discipline into practice every day. This could be exercise, budgeting, guided learning... whatever your life requires to grow. Look for it. Put it into practice. It's a reason to rejoice.

6. Make the most of your abilities

We are born with unique talents, strengths, and skills. And when we use them correctly, we feel alive and at ease in our skin. They assist us in discovering joy in our being and happiness in our design. So, every day, embrace your strengths and work within your gifts. If you need to find this outlet outside of your job, by all means, do so.

7. Accomplish one significant task

People who choose happiness to have more control over their lives. They don't make decisions based on a desire to find happiness. Instead, they act on the satisfaction that they have already chosen. They recognize that they have time constraints, worthwhile goals to pursue, and significant contributions to make to the world around them. Choose one primary task that you can complete each day. And take pleasure in your contribution.

8. Consume a nutritious meal

We exist on three levels: spiritual, emotional, and mental. We have physical bodies as well. Our lives cannot be divided into discrete parts. As a result, one aspect always has an impact on the others. Our physical bodies, for example, will always impact our spiritual and emotional well-being. As a result, caring for our physical well-being can significantly impact our emotional well-being. Eating healthy foods is a simple way to choose happiness today. Your physical body will appreciate it, as will your emotional well-being.

9. Treat others with respect

Everyone wishes to be treated with kindness. But, deeper down, we want to be treated with the same care that we would like to be treated with. Therefore, kindness, patience, and grace should be extended to everyone you meet. The Golden Rule is a firm guideline. Of course, it is advantageous to the recipient. However, it also increases your self-satisfaction as you strive to treat others as you would like to be treated.

10. Look for the good in your Challenges

This life can be challenging. Nobody escapes without suffering. We all come across it at some point in our lives. When you do, remember that even though the trials are complex, they will pass. And look deep for meaning in pain. Choose to look for the advantages that can be discovered in your test. At the very least, endurance is being developed. And, most likely, the ability to comfort others in their suffering is also being set.