Choose Happiness

Nicholas Urbaniak • February 13, 2025

When was the last time you felt disappointed? (Think for 10 seconds)


Maybe it was during a workout you just couldn’t finish, or after being passed over for a promotion you’d been counting on. Disappointment shows up for everyone, sooner or later. But what do you typically do when it hits? Shrug it off? Blame the circumstances or the people around you? Or maybe you grit your teeth and resolve to “do better next time.”


Those strategies can help you cope, but there’s another approach you might want to consider: choosing to be happy anyway.


I had this realization one night while reflecting on what I truly want out of life. Was it deeper connections, more meaningful work, or extra free time? None of these completely solved my restlessness or what I felt I needed. Then it struck me: maybe I could let go of the endless pressure to “fix” my situation and just give myself permission to be happy in spite of it.


When you realize you don’t have to tie your happiness to outcomes, and let the world dictate what you deserve, it can feel like a weight has been lifted. Disappointment doesn’t become the end of the road; it becomes just another experience which guides the next step forward. From that lighter, more open state of mind while you're happier, you can gain the clarity to decide your next move—whether it’s addressing the problem head-on, planning a spontaneous weekend trip, or simply stepping back to regroup and rest. Anyway you go, it will work out, but at least this time you might enjoy yourself a bit more.


The next time you find yourself at a crossroads or pondering something you need o work on, or just plain want to feel better about your life, remember you can take a deep breath, check in with how you feel, and decide to tap into a sense of happiness by deciding you deserve to feel happy despite circumstances—no matter what, cause who is stopping you anyway. It might not magically solve everything at once, but it can give you the freedom, courage, and energy to figure out that what truly matters is the journey you're on and how much you're enjoying it.

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