Is Happiness a Choice? Exploring the Impact of Emotional Triggers on Inner Bliss

I am pretty sure you have heard that you can choose your feelings. You have a choice to be happy or not…

What I am going to share here is more of what trigger us to be happy or not to be happy.

It’s easier to said than done, right? But if you really want to take control of your life, listen up.

Everyday you have triggers from external world. These triggers can easily put you down. What are those triggers might be: Holidays, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Success Stories, Weddings, Engagements,…etc. If you are living far away from your family and you care about them a lot, holidays probably a trigger for you. You won’t be able to spend those moments with your loved ones, instead you spend it with either your friends or most likely alone. Let’s say you are single, probably all those weddings and couple activities you see on social media or in any digital platforms, you’ll be triggered by it and feel sad about your life. The truth about these special days is, it is just a day. If there is no information about that it is some sort of a special day for x,y,z people, it is just a day for you. You can just do whatever you are supposed to do on that day. Ok let me get clearer here with a real story.

I have spent so many holidays, birthdays, special days away from my family. I remember when it was our national holiday in Turkey, I was studying in the USA. I called my family via FaceTime but it was a very bittersweet moment for me. I felt sad whole day. But the next day, which was still a national holiday in Turkey, I continued my life. I went to the gym, met my friends, and worked on my business.

Why am I telling you this story now? Because I am experiencing a similar experience right now. I am in Hungary and today is a national holiday in Turkey. All my family got together, I called them and celebrated their holiday. I was fine until I hung up and stayed still at my apartment in Hungary. I felt sad for a while. Then I asked myself “why are you sad?” I had no sane answer to myself and I continued to think about my feelings. I felt the bitterness in my heart but then I told myself “You just talked to your family, they are all healthy and happy. You are healthy and happy. It is just a normal day. You have been away from them for a month already and you never felt homesick, so just continue to live your day.” After that, I pulled my computer and started writing these lines to share it with you.

You really have a choice. Not everyone experience the same life events. Some people don’t have their parents alive, some people have them alive but are away from them, some people have lots of friends, some people don’t…etc.

We all are spirits having a human experience in this world. So all is well. Whatever you feel right now is not permanent. Everything is temporary in this world; places, people, feelings…

If you are having one of those days, just do what you love. Do what brings you joy, treat yourself, call your lovely people whoever they are and just smile that you are alive :)

Until next time, stay with joy!