Why happiness is... the most important muscle in everybody's body and how to train it

Being happy is a choice, they say. And it is true, even if not easy, at least not always. But it is simple.

Maybe the problem is just that most people tend to confuse one with the other or to think that they are synonymous. 

Well, they are not: something can be easy to get and yet not simple at all, and something can be simple but not easy at all to get. And so on.

Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.

Dale Breckenridge Carnegie [1888-1955]

So happiness is actually very simple because it is basically all about doing what one wants to do, being what one wants to be, having what one wants to have. Even better said, happiness is wanting to do what one does, wanting to be what one is, wanting to have what one has.

Like all magnificent things, it's very simple.

Natalie Babbitt

You can choose to be happy, while accepting what you do, who you are and what you have, or while finding out what you want to change in your life instead and then working hard to get there, no matter what.
Happiness needs you to believe that you can be happy. And that you, and only you, are responsible for that. If you are not happy on your own, nobody else could ever make you happy. Period.

[Happiness is...

"a tough job but someone has to do it, and I'm glad it's me"]

At the same time, it is almost impossible to be happy all the time. But this doesn't mean that one can't be happy most of the time. 

Happiness has a lot to do with single moments, small things, a good talk, a wonderful smile, a great song. Happiness is about recognizing every single moment in your life that is just perfect, that makes total sense, that brings you to think that life is amazing. 

That makes you think that you would just love to live forever.

For some people recognizing those moments, being grateful for them, enjoying them and make more of them happen is a no-brainer. For other people, it is not that easy, but one can learn it and become better at it anyway. At any age. No matter what.

Happiness is like a muscle that you have to train and keep in shape.

(Like with the famous Brad Pitt's six-pack, do you remember?)
Step by step. Without being impatient. While accepting that, for sure, getting better at it will take time.

[If you should see somewhere these wonderful 
Purple shoes by Melissa in Little Prince style... 
please drop me a line!]

For example, in the last 24 hours happiness to me has been:

- walking on the streets at 2 AM while feeling home and happy to be in Berlin; 

- getting home at night and playing with my lovely cat, awake waiting for me;
- enjoying a gorgeous raw breakfast with slices of avocado, banana, fig, hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds;

- opening my postbox today in the morning and finding a new copy of The little Prince for my collection in a language I didn't have so far, a wonderful gift from an old friend;
- helping out a colleague with a task I am very good at and knowing that I made his day;

- having lunch with another friend, laughing out loud while talking about love and relationships and men and the like;
- enjoying my favorite Vegan sushi rolls (every time it's just like the first time...);

- taking a walk in the sun in the afternoon and feeling the sun warm my skin;

- chatting in a funny way with a new friend of mine, making him laugh;

- listening to wonderful music via SoundCloud while working on interesting and challenging stuff;

- getting a surprising SMS;

- getting a very friendly e-mail with a pleasant invitation;
- reading five pages of a totally interesting book that it amazes me at every line;

- chatting with my best friend and getting a special compliment from him, and knowing that he meant it;

- preparing my dinner while choosing fresh and tasty ingredients;
- taking an important decision, a good one in the long run, even if it hurts like hell right now;
- finding a special poker chip on the street that is now my new lucky charm; 

- enjoying a delicious alcohol-free cocktail at Morgenrot Café, one of my favorite places in Berlin;
- once again walking the streets at 2 AM while feeling safe and grateful for another interesting day... 

and the list could go on and on and on.

What about you?

How long would your list be, today? And tomorrow?

This one is dedicated to A. Thanks.

Tags: Happiness, People, Quotes, Berlin, Emotions, Positive attitude

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