“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral. It is as it is.”
Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose
Can you fill in the rest of this sentence? “I’d be happy if only…” this would happen or that would happen or this wouldn’t have happened.
For me, I’ve learned that being happy in life is not a factor of what happens to us, it’s how we feel about the situation and how we respond to it. In most situations, if we want it to happen and it does, then we’re happy. If we didn’t want it to happen and it does, then we’re unhappy. But the situation isn’t good or bad. It only speaks to what’s already inside of us. It calls out our values, fears, memories and pain.
We can’t control life events but we do have influence over how they affect us by choosing how we react to them. In truth, we are as happy as we allow ourselves to be.
“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”
Viktor Frankl
Situations don’t dictate our happiness! No, they simply reveal our strengths and weaknesses. How we process the situation determines our outlook. Seeking peace, joy and more contentment? It’s possible when we remain aware of our desires, choose deliberately and practice acceptance. This offers us a sense of empowerment because the only thing we can completely control in this world is ourselves.
Keep it Simple,
Just Teri
jtjustteri.wordpress.com 
So appropriate for our times. No matter what we have life is filled with hills and valleys. WE just have to keep moving forward.
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Oh those hills and valleys ❣️😉
Thanks for your comment Pene!
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This is a great post, I was just thinking earlier, I can not stop the storm, so I need to stop myself, from raging like the storm. Calm me. So my thoughts on the situation make a difference. I also believe every challenge provides an opportunity. Thanks for the opportunity to share on such a worthwhile topic!
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Love the image you created with a storm because thats exactly what it can feel like when our emotions take over. 🌪⛈
I believe it’s definitely a learning curve that’s well worth the ups and downs 😉😀
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Just feeding off your wonderful post.
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Wonderful read. Do check out ‘The Art of Happiness’ book by ‘Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard Cutler’
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Thanks Dr Maini. Always enjoy book suggestions 😀
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Me too❣️❣️❣️
Yes, let’s make it happen…soon ❤️🤗
Thanks Jana 😀
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I’d be happy if only I could have lunch with my friend Teri. 🙂
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Thanks for this important reminder! The only actions we can control are our own. 🕊
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Yes❣️ Gosh, reading your comment it hit me that while it seems so simple, of course we know we’re only able to control our own actions, but oh, how challenging it can be to put into practice. 😉
I say, it’s worth our time and effort to keep practicing 😃
Thanks ❤️🤗
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Definitely! It is much easier said than done. 🙂
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Oh my gosh, this is the third article I’ve read this week about how are thoughts influence us. Excellent post Teri, and it’s more important now than ever to implement this. 🙂
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Wow. I just love feedback when a post resonates with others so I’m very appreciative of your comment and everyone who takes their time to engage ❣️❤️
Thanks Sharon 🥰
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Excellent. 🙂
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Thanks so much 😀
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Is the situation a problem or an opportunity? We really do have a choice. thank you, Teri!
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Exactly Jeff! Perfect question to ask ourselves with each challenge! 😃👍🏻
How can we create an opportunity out of this problem??
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