How to Be Happy In an Unhappy Environment

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

How can you be happy in an unhappy environment, in an unhappy world, is that even possible? Is the world we’re living really a hostile place to be, is the world we’re living really an unhappy world?

I guess it all depends on who you are asking but if you really think about it, the world is neither happy nor unhappy, neither good nor bad, and just like Shakespeare said it, “there is nothing either good orbad, but thinking makes it so.”

We are the ones who perceive things as being in one way or another. The outside world is nothing more than a projection of the inside world, a projection of our own inner world, a projection of our own fears, doubts, struggles, our own darkness. The world is full of negativity, poverty and suffering because we have projected our own negativity, our own pain and suffering on to it and now we somehow see it as being separate from who we are. We choose to blame the world for our lack of happiness, our lack of abundance and inner peace not understanding that by doing so are inflicting even more pain upon ourselves and those around us.

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. ~Francesca Reigler

If we choose to watch the news every single day, if we focus our attention on the things that are missing, on the things that are not working, on poverty rather than abundance, on ugliness rather than beauty, than yes, the world would definitely be seen as a really unhappy place.

Most people would rather be certain they’re miserable, than risk being happy. ~Robert Anthony

On the other hand, if we choose to focus on the many incredible things that take place every day across the world, all the beautiful people in our lives, all the amazing things that are happening to us and all around us, then the world would be seen as a beautiful, harmonious, peaceful and happy place and as a result we will find happiness.

We often hear people telling us how they want to change and save the world but what’s there to be saved? Is it really the world that needs to be saved or is just US – the humans inhabiting this world? The world is a projection of ourselves and the moment we become aware of this truth that will be the moment we’ll all find peace and we’ll all be happy.

Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done. The world is sacred.It can’t be improved. If you tamper with it, you’ll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you’ll lose it. ~Lao Tzu, 2500BC

Happiness is a choice and it comes your way the moment you start taking responsibility for your own thoughts, your own beliefs and your own life and it has nothing to do with your geographic location, your age, skin color, race, religion, weight, etc..

Until we won’t let go of our need to see ourselves as victims of the world and until we won’t let go of the constant need to complain and criticize everyone and everything for what is missing in our lives we won’t really be happy. If we are too busy focusing our time and energy on what is wrong, on what is not working, on what is lacking we won’t have any time life to spend on improving ourselves and our lives.

We only have one life to live, this life and we should as well enjoy it, appreciate everything about it, appreciate all that we are and all that have and live in harmony with the rest of the population, no conflicts, no hate, no negativity. We are all in this together, we are all ONE and it would be such a pity to ignore this truth and continue to fight amongst each ourselves.

What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner. ~Colette

Added by Luminita Saviuc on 27, August 2012