Happiness and how I react to it

I have teenage kids and as a parent I am always trying to plant those seeds that may one day take root and be helpful to them in life. Since they are teenagers, they always blow me off as being "Mr. Positive", or even "Mr. Perfect" - Ouch! Perfect? No way, just trying to be helpful? Always. So I keep trying in spite of their normal adolescent obstinacy. Life with teenagers - lots of drama, especially with the girls. Too much drama most of the time. I am always telling my kids that honesty with yourself is the most important person to be honest with. If you can't do that, then you are at risk for heading down many wrong paths. "To thine own self be true" - see it's not a new concept since Shakespeare already thought of it.

Who is in the mirror? My dad always used to say, ultimately you live with yourself, so can you? What do you see when you look in the mirror? You have to be able to look into the mirror and be OK with who you are, what you are, and where you are going. You also have to be able to forgive yourself as God does. Forgive yourself, turn your past sins over to God and know that He loves you unconditionally and that you are forgiven - so learn to forgive yourself.

Another great saying by our play write is:
Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so.
--Shakespeare

This leads me to my topic today of finding happiness by choosing to find happiness. How you react to situations in your life is key to your serenity and ultimate happiness.

Look for the Good in all things and circumstances.

Life is an interpretive experience. What happens is less important than how we respond to our circumstances. An intense stimulus that some people report as pain others report as pleasure. It is we who decide what the interpretation will be.

Are you a "good finder"? A recent study of the country's millionaires showed that the most common trait they all shared was the ability to discover good in any situation. This trait is also common in "triumphant survivors" - those individuals who overcome adversity and emerge
strengthened and renewed.

A sincere spiritual seeker suffering from a chronic illness wondered, "Why haven't my prayers been answered?" One day, in deep meditation the reply came: "Look for the good in your situation and you will see that the answer has already been provided." Suddenly this woman realized that her crisis provided a wonderful opportunity. She embarked on a program
of nutrition, exercise, and yoga, which led to a dramatic improvement in the quality of her life.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Your state of mind is up to you. Choose now to look for the good.