“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Do you remember that song from your childhood? I don’t know why that song came to me this morning, but here I am writing about it. Because maybe I’ve been led to open up that conversation with you…so here it goes!
I’ll admit I wasn’t always happy. I mean I thought I was, but when I look back, I realize that I wasn’t. I was going through the motions of living what I thought was a happy life, just getting by and doing the best I could under the circumstances. The circumstances weren’t easy for I’ve had a lot of life lessons over the years that weren’t fun. I don’t think there are many of us who can say that those tough periods of time in our lives were fun. But…we can say that once we’ve healed from them, learned the lessons and climbed another rung on the ladder of life, we can see how those tough times changed us for the better.
Happiness is a conscious choice. Change is more or less constant and change isn’t always bad. I know sometimes we feel like change is bad, but I’ve learned that change allows for wiggle room in life. A chance to succeed or fail. A chance to grow or stagnate. A chance to learn more about ourselves and life or block those a-ha moments.
Given those choices, I want change. I choose happiness.
I wake up happy most days. I think it’s innate in me and I’ve worked hard to choose to look at the good instead of drowning in the bad. While it hasn’t been easy, I’ve been blessed to have a village of friends whose hearts are welcoming and who all believe that we help each other along the way. Each with our own special blend of wisdom.
I’m not saying that we have to be happy all of the time. Not at all. There’s a time and place for grief, for releasing the sadness, frustration and toxicity through tears. Each emotion has its place to help us through life. But it’s the moving through the emotions, the lessons and the experiences in order to gain wisdom to help others is the key to happiness.
That’s why I wish you a Joyful Change!!
Joyful Change With Yvonne 