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Illustrated Quotes About Choosing Happiness

Updated on December 16, 2015

"The foolish seek happiness in the distance; the wise grow it under their feet." ~ James Oppenheim

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Choose to See the Beauty

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That Surrounds You

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Happiness is a Choice

I used to think that people who exuded joy and happiness were blessed with an easy life and had been spared hardships, but experience has taught me that happiness can be a conscious choice, regardless of one's circumstances. According to the dictionary, the word "choose" means to:

  • select from a number of possibilities
  • prefer or decide (to do something)
  • want; desire
  • make a choice
  • be inclined

Mindful, conscious choices can bring happiness into our lives and help us feel empowered rather than overwhelmed by our current life circumstances. This hub will highlight some famous quotes that can inspire us to make positive choices that will bring more happiness into our lives and the illustrations I've chosen will create a sense of appreciation for the beauty of nature and help us feel naturally joyful.

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"We can go through our whole lives worrying about our future happiness, and totally miss where true peace lives- right here, right now." ~ Peter Russell

"True happiness is to enjoy the present... without anxious dependence upon the future." ~ Seneca

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How Lifestyle Choices Impact Happiness

Author William Holland, aka Billybuc, on HubPages has written a wonderful hub about choosing happiness and how it's related to the lifestyle choices that we make: http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Lifestyle-Choices-Why-Am-I-So-Happy .

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"The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness." ~ Abraham Maslow."

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Mindfulness Leads to Happiness

Focusing our attention on the present moment breathes positive energy into our lives and helps us let go of the way things were in the past.

During the last 22 years my husband suffered several heart attacks and I used to spend much of my time worrying about losing him. Adjusting to his diagnosis taught me the importance of focusing on each moment, and the futility and waste of spending the precious time we do have together worrying about what may occur in the future. Some days that's still a challenge especially when new health crises or issues arise, but I've learned to cope through mindful meditation that returns my focus to the present and by being grateful for the time we do get to spend together.

When we choose to become more mindful of the present, we feel lighter, brighter and ready to move on. We don't waste time focusing on the things that might happen, but rather focus on being grateful for the things we have in the present moment.

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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting what we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~ Frederick Koenig

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"Simply being alive is the greatest blessing we can enjoy." ~ Rene Dubos.

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"Don't judge by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

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Gratitude Quotes That Foster Happiness

When we choose to live in a state of gratitude we view life as the gift it is and appreciate all the positive things in our lives.

The first thing I do each morning is take a deep breath and thank God for the start of a brand new day. As a nurse, I've seen people with lung diseases and terminal diseases struggle for each breath and this taught me to fully appreciate the fact that the ability to simply breathe is a blessing which most take for granted.

Florence Nightingale said, "Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift." Nurses are more aware than most of the fragility and preciousness of this thing we call the life force. One moment we're here, and in the next breath we could be gone. Various faiths explain what happens after death in different ways and those who have only their own personal beliefs may feel all existence ends at the time of death. Such things may be up for debate and no one knows for sure what happens when we die, but we all know that our time on earth is limited. The wise among us, celebrate life as a splendid gift to be savored, not wasted.

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." I am grateful that I have the ability to plant seeds of joy wherever I go and make a conscious effort to do so whenever possible. Spreading smiles, love, kind words, kind thoughts and actions costs nothing and brings great joy into my own life and I've found that it's a natural antidote to depression. When I focus on helping others I am less focused on my own problems or worries.

In this regard, we can learn from the bees whose work ensures the beauty in our world by pollenating flowers:

"The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others." ~ Saint John Chrysotom.

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"Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life" by Alexandra Stoddard

This book contains creative ideas and illuminating anecdotes that will help you make small but significant changes in your thoughts, heart and surroundings and discover the keys to a happy, joyful life.

In challenging times, it's easy to question whether joy is a choice but the author gently teaches us that happiness lies in the passions we pursue and the pressures we decline.

Seeking Our Highest Purpose is Key to Joy

We can all learn about highest purpose from the example that Mother Teresa gave us by the way she lived her life. Her life was devoted to tending the sick, poor and homeless, and we can also choose to honor our highest purpose by caring for our families, friends and strangers. We can engage in meaningful work whether through charity or paid employment. Even if we don't believe in God we can believe in having a purpose that goes beyond our own existence. I believe that doing so is key to our own joy.

The following quotes may help guide and inspire you to your highest purpose and joy:

  • "Make your life something beautiful for God." Mother Teresa.
  • "This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one." George Bernard Shaw.
  • "There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that's your own self." Aldous Huxley

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Your True Self is Glowingly Beautiful

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Quotes About Knowing Your True Self

In summary, the key to being truly happy is to know and accept your true self:

  • "If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation." Krishnamurti.
  • "People should be beautiful in every way...in their thoughts and in their innermost selves." Anton Chekhov.
  • "Our responsible concern is with our private destiny, after all." William James.


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"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." ~ Abraham Lincoln

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Do you believe happiness is a choice?

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