Where Is Happiness
 

The view that happiness and unhappiness come from external things and people puts us in a predicament, because we can never completely control the people and things around us. We try to obtain what we want, but we never have enough. Continuously disappointed, we search for more and better of whatever it is we think will bring us happiness.

Likewise, we think that whenever we have a problem, it's due to an external person or thing. We attribute our emotional problems to the way or parents treated us when we were young. We blame our present dissatisfaction on our employers, employees, relatives, or friends. We wish that the people around us would learn to treat us better.

Others aren't what we want them to be, and we are constantly frustrated in our attempts to make them change. Our lives can become very complicated as we try to make the world what we want it to be. Unfortunately, the world doesn't cooperate.



Open Heart, Clear Mind

I hear you, Thanks Doug

I find society as a whole very difficult to deal with.
That's a loooong story!

My sponsor recommended a long time ago that I decrease my expectations in regards to people, places, or things. I tend to be happier when following this advice.

Thanks for this reminder that I hold the key to my own happiness, have all along. How "I" am no longer depends on how anyone else is, I am as happy as I set my mind to be.

Hugs

This is a great thread Doug!

A great reminder for me as I currently struggle with a new annoying employee that is pushing buttons for me left and right! I need to realize what has been said here and practice this as I always try too!

Thank you for this! :)

Good post, Doug.

Reminds me of a couple of excerpts from the Basic Text -

[1] "One of the biggest stumbling blocks to recovery seems to be placing unrealistic expectations on ourselves and others. Relationships can be a terribly painful area. We tend to fantasize and project what will happen. We get angry and resentful if our fantasies are not fulfilled. We forget that we are powerless over other people."

[2] "Since the beginning of our recovery, we have found that joy doesn't come from material things, but from within ourselves."

Happiness is a choice.

One time some one asked me "When am I going to get happy?" I answered "Never!"

If I think happiness is something I need to get, it will always be just out of my reach.