Definition of Happiness

What is the definition of happiness? Looking it up now…..”an agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind.” LOL, looking up propitious, “convenient, favorable, or kind. Showing signs of a favorable outcome.” I didn’t know what propitious meant. Okay, so what I am seeing here, is that happiness is defined as an agreeable feeling. Agreeable to who? Whose soul? Looks like happiness is defined by you! I am seeing that there is no definition of happiness by a collective, group, or entity. SO, what does mean? Whatever you feel is convenient, favorable, or kind to you, makes YOU happy. No one else.

I have had a few people ask if I am happy and it is an ongoing question every time they talk to me. What you see as happiness might not be the same as mine. Different situations, material things, fortune, and outcomes define each and every one of us daily or hourly. I remember when I was a kid, I feel, might not be right, but I felt like someone told me not to show emotion. If you are a millennial, this may ring true for you as well. It’s an inner child concept we were taught. I am NOT blaming this on family or friends, I am blaming the societal influence at the time. Mental health was NOT talked about when I was growing up. The school counselor for all I knew was to help me find a college to go to. I really didn’t understand the use of a counselor. I was NEVER taught.

So, this is where I get a little defensive. I get defensive when I am continually asked if I am happy. Happiness is within, for ME. If I have positive thoughts, I am happy. I digest internally, not externally. I was called Zen Brooke awhile back because I don’t show my highs or lows, and I will remain to do so. Back when I was in sports and we won games or I did well in a race, I wasn’t showing off emotion, I wasn’t cheering because I truly didn’t want feelings to be hurt. I am an empath, it’s what we do. You choose your happiness, no one else can do that for you. It’s on you. If someone questions it, I need to learn to let go and not be defensive and simply define my happy may look different than your happy. I don’t need to explain myself. I just need to simply say, “ok that is on you, not me.”

Depression equals sad, past events. Anxiety equals fear, future tense. Eighty-five percent of people are living either in their past or the future which doesn’t even exist. Which one are you?