Happiness: The Decision
Have you ever thought that maybe happy isn’t a result of circumstance but a product of decision? That it’s a result of an individual setting their focus on the good and not the pain of life? It’s the same picture, just a different frame. The same cards, just a different play. The same lemons, just a different drink.
When you frame up your life with your depression, your weakness, and your hurt — you will never be able to see anything but that. Frame up your situation and focus on the opportunity of it. Find strength in the weakness. See the pain as the gift to feel peace.
It’s not EASY to focus on joy. It’s not easy to focus on a seemingly small notion when everything else is going wrong. But focus, like anything in life, is something that must be developed and refined. You gain the ability to focus on good when you practice it everyday. It takes time to fight a human reaction (tragedy = give up, bad day = miserable). So understand that it will take time to build up the ability to frame your circumstances in a way that shows the joy, peace, and beauty in them.
Suffering is inevitable. It will exist in your life, but you can refuse to let it in your frame. You can choose to not focus on it. Know that where you are now does not define where God is taking you. Maybe some days you need to back up and frame the bigger picture, and other days you need to focus the frame on some small glimpse of hope. Whatever it is — you can control the frame.
