Is Happiness a Choice?
Lately, my social media feed has been filled with posts claiming that happiness is a choice. Is that really true, or is it just another example of toxic positivity dressed up as wisdom?
Honestly, I think it can be both. Happiness can be a choice when there is a life event or series of life events that occurs. In that case, we can choose whether it beats us down or we rise above it.
On the other hand, the human body is a complex being. That means we can’t simply say that happiness is a choice in all cases. For example, let’s look at women and their hormonal systems. Did you know we go through a hormonal shift every 2.5 days? Sometimes we recognize it and other times we know very well our hormones are ruling the roost! If they are out of whack, how could we possibly choose happiness when our bodies are physically saying I’m unhappy?
Another example is a major grief, or a series of griefs where we just feel so knocked down, we can’t get back on our feet. We might need a little help choosing that happiness, especially if the people we used to speak to about our emotions were one or more of the people we lost.
Third example, a chemical imbalance in the brain. Yes it exists! Does it exist as much as the pharmaceutical world used to think it did? Nope! That’s why anti-depressants shouldn’t be a one size fits all, or a long term solution. It may not benefit everyone and therefore those pesky side effects, including emotional numbness, may be more harmful as the drugs themselves aren’t even helpful. Don’t believe me? Read this research by Joanna Moncrieff, et al in Molecular Psychiatry. How on earth could we possibly choose happiness when our brains are not functioning as they are meant to?
Does this mean some people are simply not destined for happiness? Absolutely not! Whilst mindset plays an important role, it’s normal to need a little extra support. Small, intentional choices can make a big difference, such as moving your body regularly and nourishing it with leafy greens, fresh fruits, and high-quality proteins. Building a sense of community and purpose is just as powerful. Try volunteering for causes you care about or spending quality time with friends doing activities you both enjoy. It’s amazing how much that can lift your spirits and strengthen your resilience!
Or maybe even that isn’t working, then are you hopeless? Absolutely not! It may be that you need a little help from Mother Nature. There are many different homeopathic remedies that can help your body rebalance and get you back to that path of being able to “choose” happiness. I’ve written about one of them before, check it out here.
If you would like to know more information or speak about how homeopathy can help you or someone you love, please book a free 20 minute initial chat with me.