Happiness Is A Decision!

July 20, 2005

BE HAPPY ZONE

By Lionel Ketchian

Nothing is more important than the decisions you make. Nothing has more power in affecting your future moments than the decisions you make in this moment. You have heard that happiness is a choice, but first it must be a decision. There is a big difference between a choice and a decision.

When you are faced with making a choice, it is usually an either/or conclusion. That's the way our minds work. For example, if you wonder if you should buy the red candy or the blue candy? You could choose to buy both the red and the blue candy. This way your choice is not limited to one or the other. You can make a choice to include both.

When you may be trying to choose between doing your homework, housework or other work or going out for a walk, you might actually be able to choose both. Instead of choosing just one thing and excluding the other, you can choose to do both by choosing the order and how much time you will devote to each. This way you can choose to do one thing now and the other later. You have made a choice and you have included or chosen both options.

A decision is something entirely different. You cannot make more than one decision at a time regarding a certain event or problem. You need to decide what is ultimately important or what is most important. That is the way we make a decision. You are required to look at all the options that are available to you and pick the best option for now.

A choice requires you to look at two options. A decision requires you to simplify it to just one. A choice requires you to look over two options carefully to see which one you will pick. A decision requires you to look at everything in that category and see what is most important. An example of this is that a judge does not make a choice in a trial. A judge makes a decision. He collects all the evidence and weighs it out in his mind. Than he makes a decision, he doesn't choose. When a judge is determining whether someone is innocent or guilty, he doesn't choose between them, he makes a decision as to whether or not someone is guilty or innocent. There was no choice made by the judge, a decision was made.

Let's say you are trying to make a choice between eating a chocolate chip cookie and an oatmeal cookie. If your choice is not made on the decision on how healthfully you will eat, than the choices will be random and not always in your best interest. If your decision was to eat in a more healthful way than you might choose the oatmeal cookie. You might choose not to eat either one as a result of your decision to eat in a more healthful way. You actually cannot make the best choice until you have made the best decision. Once you have made the right decision or the best decision for yourself, choices become more appropriate for you.

You really can't choose happiness until you make the decision to be happy. Your decision to be happy supercedes all else and directs your ability to choose happiness. If you have not decided on happiness as a decision than your emotions will decide for you. They will choose how you will react in a given situation. You will not have the power to make choices, but your emotions will. Life is always forcing you to make choices, and that is where your problems are created. Life doesn't force you to make decisions. It is only when you make your own decisions in life that you're meaning and purpose can emerge. Many people do not know what their meaning and purpose in life is. This is because they have not made a decision on what is most important in their life. Once you realize that happiness is more important than anything else, than your authentic meaning and purpose can be realized.

Once you make a decision -- choices are much easier to make. You could say that choices become less perplexing as a result of having made a decision. For example, ordering a meal from a menu can be easier and simpler once you understand what your decision is regarding what you should consume.

How you think -- will determine what you decide. When it comes to living your life, make the decision to be happy. Life will bombard you with choices that you cannot make as consciously as you could if you made a decision to be happy. This is because the decision to be happy carries you forward to an understanding of what is good for you and also what is best for others. Your decision to be happy enables you to do what is best for others as well. If is not good for us than it is probably not good for anyone else either. Making a decision is by far the most powerful thing you can do. We all value being decisive. We feel that when people can make a decision they are able to think for themselves and show leadership for others by being in charge of their own thinking.

Until you make a decision you really won't know if it is a good one or a bad one. This is because once you have made a decision and you follow it for awhile, and test drive it. This is the way you find out if it is a good one, or one that can be improved, or one that you need to drop.

Decisions affect your life, your health, and they affect ever aspect of your being. They are the most powerful things you can cause to set into motion for your well being. You will always have to make choices; you cannot chose once and for all. Make the right decision once and for all and it will positively affect you for the rest of your life. Happiness is a decision so make it now!

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be on Thursday, July 21, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. The presentation will be "Happiness Is Power!" The meeting will be held at the Sullivan Independence Hall, Fairfield. Looking forward to seeing you. Admission is free; everyone is welcome. Come on down, meet some great people and share the joy!

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club, a Happiness Coach, and can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.HappinessClub.com.