“I just want to be happy”
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I hear this sometimes. I’ve said it a lot myself. But happiness is an extreme, and by nature extremes are temporary (take the weather for example), so to exist in an extreme is unsustainable. To strive to constantly be in this desirable state is unrealistic, potentially setting oneself up for failure, and so for disappointment/unhappiness.
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Actions are driven by emotions, which are derived from thoughts. Rather than strive for the emotion of happiness I’m choosing instead to take on the mindset of positivity - to be thoughtful; to be responsive rather than reactive; to think the best of others, of myself; to love. And in doing so I allow myself to be more receptive to happiness when it comes my way.