Each day is a new beginning – a fresh start. Each day is the first day of the rest of your life. You’ve heard these maxims, yet have you ever really thought of a new day in this manner?
Think about this: When you get up in the morning, you can make changes in your life, which will affect the rest of your days on this earth. Isn’t that exciting? It is a marvelous feeling to know the decisions I make today, this day, can mark the beginning of a new life for me. My life is determined according to the choices I make today. I can lie in bed all day eating donuts, drinking coffee, and watching TV, or I can hop up, go for a walk, eat some fruit, read something inspiring, do something for someone else, and focus on reaching my goals. I can dread my day at a dreary job, or be thankful for the ability to work and better myself by learning from my experiences there. I can judge everyone and everything around me as stupid and unimportant, or I can see others as interestingly unique and on their own inspiring journeys. I can strike out with anger, or open my arms with love. It is completely my choice.
I can literally shape my way of thinking, acting, and being by choosing to do so. If it is to be, it is up to me. Happiness – being at peace and being harmonious in soul and spirit – comes from within. Happiness cannot be given to you, and you cannot take it from others. Your happiness is dependent upon you. You can get happy just like you got sad (or mad or grouchy or mean or whatever), all by yourself.
You may say, “You don’t understand! I have to put up with my negative spouse each day! I try to be happy and then he/she ruins it!” No, your spouse isn’t taking away your happiness; you are. You are allowing his/her actions to affect you the way they are, because of how you are choosing to react. You are reacting by getting angry, sad, negative, or whatever, yourself, when you could choose to react differently. You have the power to choose to let these actions/circumstances just roll off of you, like water off a duck’s back. You can choose to reach a spiritual plane in which you do not judge your spouse or his/her actions, and you don’t let those actions shape your being. When you reach this state, you will love him/her more and expect less. Your happiness becomes just that, yours.
It is up to you to choose to be happy, and even if you may have blown it for today, make tomorrow count. When you get up in the morning, make it a happy day. Choose to be thankful for each day, learning from each experience, seeing the good in each experience, and being happy for the privilege to do so. Remember, you will be happier if you choose to be nice rather than right as you interact with, and react to, other people.