Do you believe happiness is a choice?

Question

There is so much depression it seems these days. I know within my life, there are things that have happened to me that could cause me to be depressed but I refuse to let past mistakes or someone else that tries to hurt me - get me depressed .

Answer 1

yes indeed I do believe that happiness is a choice.
when someone or something has happened that makes us mad, sad, or down in the dumps it is only natural that our feelings get mixed up and hurts, and that those things can make us mad and depressed, but we can stand strong and keep on going and try to find a way to make us happy. I have been through an abusive life, I have 4 boys who were a part of that abusive life, but I got my boys and I away from that abusive life, that abusive life has caused me a lot of depression, but I have decided that I am gona stand strong and be happy no matter what.

Answer 2

No, for the most part. The human psyche, spirit, and heart are too complex and profound to allow just the mind to control them completely. Further, the mind may not be able to comprehend all of the workings of either or all of those parts of the human existence, expecially when the mind is unable to deal with more extreme conditions or states that the psyche can be in. Trauma is an example- the mind will ignore the emotions and thoughts caused by it, and thus, as the event lies in the subconscious, the person is unwittingly not able to be 'happy' regardless of any conscious will to be happy or wish to be happy. The person will be suffering without a clue why, and will actually really want to be happier and will try (will decide it's best to be happy), but it will just not be possible until complex states of existence are understood and resolved.

But, happiness is a choice to the extent that it is happiness about something that is fully uhnderstood and controlled or something that a person truly is able to deal with -- such as not having the most expensive car- that's not a complex issue to come to terms with!

Alos, a distinction should be made between happiness and resilience. Resilience is the ability to deal with stressful, transient stimulus or to maintain a certain level of energy regradless of circumstance. Happiness, however, is much deeper and richer thatn resilience. Happiness is again something of the heart, soul, body, mind, and psyche. Happiness is a profundity of human life that goes beyond explanation, really, but when one feels it is is not just in response to positive or negative stimulus, it is internal and constant, and quiet. Hard to describe...

So I say no and yes, but no more than yes-- I say "nes".

:)

Answer 3

yes, it is all a matter of perspective. I once depressed for 3 years, because all I did was sit around and moan about what was wrong with my life and was too self-absorbed to realize what so right with my life. 10 years later, I have learned from that lesson and now I live life to the fullest and appreciate all that happens on a day-to-day basis, every experience is a life lesson

Answer 4

For the most part, yes. Depression isn't necessarily something one has a choice over (chemical imbalances, heredity, etc.). However, for the majority of people, this saying rings true: Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% what you make of it.

Answer 5

Well. You can make happiness a choice. Its your outlook on life and many different things. If you choosew to look at everything in a negative way, then your chances of even "chooseing" to be happy are not very likely.

Answer 6

I believe we make choices for every situation. Sometimes a delayed choice, but nevertheless, we eventually choose to be happy, sad, or depressed.

Answer 7

In most cases, but sometimes, the choice gets taken away from you for a while (through depression, other illness, death of a loved one, etc.)

Answer 8

that's the right way to move on with ones life.. don't let others rule ur emotions.. u control ur emotions and not vice versa.. learn from ur mistakes and never regret anything u have done.. as it goes the only person who hasn't made a mistake is the one who hasn't tried anything new!

Answer 9

It certainly is. After struggling for years for hapiness to come to me, I decided that I wasn't gonna wait for it anymore. I'm creating my own happiness and I choose to be happy, no matter what the circumstances. So yeah, its a choice.

Answer 10

Happiness happens.