Happiness Right Here, Right Now

Being gloriously joyful is invariably a matter of choice. It is ours to have where we are, who we are, and in this very moment, says Ayesha Chopra

- Ayesha Chopra

Happiness is a matter of choice!” Fifteen years ago, I would have dismissed this claim as mere platitude. But now, after having struggled and successfully come out of years of depression and unhappiness, I feel qualified enough to assert that if I can make it, so can you and anyone else who is seeking inner peace and happiness.

I now have sufficient reason to believe that happiness is not the prerogative of a few enlightened souls. It is available to all who are willing to make that choice. I hasten to explain that choosing to be happy doesn’t mean that we never feel sad or pained, or struggle with difficult emotions, or face conflicts from time to time. Nor does it mean that we deny or suppress painful emotions. As humans we are bound to feel all the emotions from time to time, both positive and negative. We are enriched by the range and depth of our emotional realm. In our world of opposites where there are negative influences of hatred and anger, there are also the positive aspects of love, compassion and generosity. Each of us is capable of choosing and manifesting both in our personal reality.

Choosing wisely

Happiness is a matter of consciously choosing the positive over the negative—peace over violence, compassion over hatred, forgiveness over anger, generosity over greed and faith over fear. Of cultivating a state of mind that remains strong and stable, content and peaceful in the face of fleeting emotions and changing circumstances. The beauty of it all is that it is within the reach of each one of us if we so choose.