Happiness

So if happiness is a state of mind.  Why do we chose to be sad?  This question has been puzzeling me for so long.  As we mature we figure out people and situations can only get us down if we allow them to.  For example I have read different post about people being upset that they gain weight or never made it to goal.  It seems as if they forget all about what they have already accomplished in this journey.  I know we must stay on track but it seems like we could be happy in the mist of our struggles no matter what they are.  I am finally starting to realize as I approach thirty that only I can make me happy.  There will all ways be struggles but it is what you do during your struggles that will give you happiness in the long run. God has already provided the essential tools necessary in his word to provide happiness.   If you have a moment or two please share with me how you keep yourself happy and keep the blues away. 
Thanks

I am a very happy person,  it was at age 32 that I made the decision to step out on a limb and put what I wanted first and make my dam self happy.   I spent way to many years putting other people first and making sure others were happy while I was absolutely miserable.

Now it's all about my happiness and of course Becca's.   I do things, say things, and live the things that make both of us happy.   I have this rule,  I never ever say anything hurtful to her in anger and I never have,  I think anger is the beginning of unhappiness. 

I live a pretty happy existence and i'm very thankful for that.

There will be issues or things that arise to make us sad. However, I agree that you have to be at a place in your life to where no matter what the situation you need to try to remember the positives.  It took me some time ago to figure this out but thank goodness I did.  I have my moments but I don't let a situation or a person keep me down for the count. 

I feel you Faith I have my moments but I am trying to always remind myself of how much better I will be when my trials are over.  Thanks

I try not to focus on what I dont have but be very appreciative of what I do have....

This is definitely  a must in order to be positive and motivated to do right.  Thanks

I have ALWAYS been a very happy and upbeat person even in REAL LIFE..lol, even when I am down I take that in turn it into something positive.

You know I have never mentioned this on these boards, but after my second divorce, I sold my house back in 2003; and GAVE AWAY BRAND NEW EXPENSIVE FURNITURE TO THE NEW OWNERS and went back to Atlanta for awhile and stayed with my sister, I did not have BUT THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK and my Toyota Camry at the time, I LEARNED MONEY and MATERIAL THINGS DO NOT ALWAYS EQUATE TO HAPPINESS, I had everything that a girl could dream of, and I GAVE IT AWAY; and I was ALSO MORBIDLY OBESE...but what I did have was FAITH and DETERMINATION, I did not worry about a job so much, because I knew I had worked hard for many years to obtain a career that was recession proof.

My sister did not understand this, she thought I was crazy giving away so many nice things, and I told her, material things can be replaced but HAPPINESS cannot. So I started over from scratch and obtained every ting I had previously in less than 3 years simply because I worked hard to obtain those things again, SAME GOES with losing weight, I NEVER got to a MEDICAL chart NORMAL BMI, but I am MORE happy now that I have ever been in my entire life. Also I have came to realize weight loss comes and go, I have been up and down with weight, so if I gain a few pounds I don't sweat it! I just know what I NEED TO DO to lose weight, if I don't work my band I don't lose weight, NOTHING COMES EASY IN LIFE even with weight loss surgery, we just can't get on our knees and pray and think somehow magically weight will disappear, it HELPS to ask god for strength if we are religious, but anything WORTH something in life WE HAVE TO WORK HARD TO accompli****; whether it be weight loss, job, marriage, etc....success ALWAYS some with a price of hard work!!!

In fact, I have gained close to 20 pounds from my lowest weight since my band surgery, but I am happy because I have learned to accept ME, and surround myself with people that LOVE ME FOR ME and that brings happiness, would I still be happy at this point in my life even if I don't lose these extra 20 pounds, yes, because I have learned to love me, first you have to love yourself and then others will pick up positive energy to love you also and with all this positive energy will breed optimism and optimism breed success!! You can't be successful unless you believe in yourself!! I learn long time ago that you can be and do anything you want to do, if you think of yourself as a failure then you will BE A FAILURE and will never prosper,whether it be losing weight or obtaining a great job, career or finding the love of your life!! Stay positive it is very healthy!!

You make some good points and for the record I must state a believer understands faith with out works is dead.  You need both faith and works in order to please God and yourself. 

Totally agree!!!  God has already provided and though tough times will come and we will be sad, tears are for one night but joy comes in the morning.  We, as believers must enter into the peace that Jesus left with us, abased or abounding and be happy.

In less than ten years I went from a life as near perfection as anyone dare hope for, to a total cluster fkcu.  Away from friends and family, no money, and in poor health.  Why should this make me unhappy? 

Well a lot about my life sucks because it is not what it was.  However, I had so much more than most.  I can be happy because I know what I can achieve.  If it was possible in my past to create the life I wanted I can do it again, albeit differently.  As long as I am alive and functioning I am empowered to control my own state of being.  We all are.  In that alone there is joy,even if I choose to do nothing.