I Choose Joy

I had an epiphany this last week and if you don’t mind I would like to share it with you.

Last week I was leaving my cardiologist’s office and my mom said, “I think it’s cool that he complimented your positive attitude.”

I smiled at the memory of the compliment and with blushing cheeks,

I replied, “Well my attitude is the only thing I can actually choose. I can’t choose my future. I can’t choose what circumstances I’m in. I can’t even control how my body reacts to day to day life. The one thing I can choose is how I respond.”  Then it hit me.

My attitude is the ONLY thing I can choose.

Despite what Hollywood and the media would like you to believe you are not in control of your destiny. (Sorry if I popped your bubble.) If we could choose our own destinies than everyone would be a billionaire. Life is unpredictable, which is what makes it so fun! Yes, it’s hard but so are all great things. As humans, we can be unique and inventive because we have free will. We are not robots, but instead are able to choose whatever response we want. Now although the outcome will always be out of our control, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Our attitudes help define us for better or worse. We like to think we can plan every aspect of our lives and simply “will” it into reality. If you can do this than you’d be the first, and I’d love to know your secret! For the rest of us, we have to roll with life.  My whole life has taught me that I can only choose my attitude. I decided early on that if I wanted to have a happy life I had to choose joy and that’s what I’ve done. It is definitely not always easy, but in the long run, it’s worth it.

The next time life kicks you in the teeth that think of these two choices.

1.     You can smile

Or…

2.     You can cry.

Choose wisely, and remember crying dehydrates you so it’s more work!