Choose Joy
Decide for yourself the life you want to live.
I have a friend who says "you'll have enough evidence every day to prove that it was either a great or a horrible day."
I believe a life of joy and fulfillment comes from what we choose to give our attention and how we choose to interpret the things happening in and around our us.
It can be very trying at times to believe that good things come from pain, yet I try to look at life circumstances and to realistically consider how these events can positively shape my life. No, I don't like grief - I don't like loss - I don't like hardship - or the acts of mean people….and yet, when I believe that all of these things have the potential to transform me to a better person and to empower me to see life with more clarity and expand my outlook on things. I don't want people to cover their ears and sing "happy, happy, joy, joy!" but I do want people to feel their feelings and make a conscious decision on how they want to move forwards in light of the people they really want to be.
I know it's not a popular idea, but I strongly believe that we can choose how we respond to adverse circumstances and abrasive people. We can feel sorry for ourselves, we can identify ourselves as innocent victims, or we can willingly give away our negative feelings, embrace the tough circumstances, and reframe them as a season for refinement. As we practice gratitude, embrace forgiveness, and trust in learning, we are invariably choosing a life of joy.