Happiness Is for the Sheep, Not the Wolves

Hi - I am presenting articles here regarding happiness and how to find it for yourself.  I do not necessarily agree with everything I post but believe that people should have a wide range of resources available so they can try out things for themselves and make their own choices.  

Go well.

Jennie

Many of us live life on the deferred payment plan. We tell ourselves, I'll be happy when I'm successful, when I'm married, paid off the house, bought that car, saved enough. The rules to happiness only get more complex as we get older, as we compare ourselves to other people, as we reject ourselves, and not live our purpose. This psychological trap guarantees that you will never be happy. The longer you wait to think and feel happy thoughts, the more likely you will think of your unworthiness, and feel miserable for not feeling happy.

Most of us are reacting to life like puppets. External events, such as getting a raise, new car, or relationship, signal to us now is the time to feel happy, excited, and love life. Likewise, external events such as getting laid off, car accidents, or divorce, signal now is the time to get angry, frustrated, or pissed off. You are letting external things control how you think, feel and behave. You are acting like a sheep. Obediently taking orders, passively accepting whatever is happening to you, not taking responsibility, and thinking you're a victim. The more passive you are and become hypnotized by these beliefs, the more likely you will think and feel that you are a helpless, and the lower your self-esteem will be. The more dependent you are on people, things, and events to make you happy, the longer you will wait, and probably die unhappy. Many people confuse stimulation with happiness. You might feel stimulated by making lots of money, but that feeling will surely be gone weeks or months later. Happiness is a mental attitude, cultivated in the present moment, and feels like soothing background music, not a concert. Happiness is inner contentment.

You need to do the opposite, and use self-esteem as your weapon. You need to exercise control, responsibility, self-acceptance, assert yourself, and think for yourself. Understand, no one is coming to make you happy. It is psychologically and physiologically impossible because no one can think or feel for you. When you feel happy or any other emotion, who gave you those feelings? It was you. Taking responsibility for you happiness, and emotional needs puts life back in your hands. You become the driver, and not the passive passenger in the backseat. Cultivate this mental attitude. Self-reliance and responsibility are mental habits that you can cultivate. The sheep are the passive recipients of life, waiting for happiness to come to them. The wolves are the ones that exercise self-responsibility and self-reliance, and go after their goals to achieve happiness. Who do you identify with?

Article Source: Younes Y
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Younes_Y/2319365