Choose to be free. Create YOUR life the way you want to live it! How happy are you?
As I take time to ponder about how grateful I am to live in a free country my mind wanders to our right to be personally free. Free to choose happiness. This quiz “Satisfaction with Life Scale” by Ed Deiner, known as Dr. Happiness, was designed to measure how subjects measure their own happiness. It helps you think about your life and rate how satisfied you are with it. Read these five statements for a quick self assessment.
How happy are you with your life? Which answer do you give for each question?
In most ways my life is close to my ideal. Strongly agree, Agree, Slightly agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Slightly disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
The conditions of my life are excellent. Strongly agree, Agree, Slightly agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Slightly disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
I am satisfied with my life. Strongly agree, Agree, Slightly agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Slightly disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
So far I have gotten the important things I want in life. Strongly agree, Agree, Slightly agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Slightly disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing. Strongly agree, Agree, Slightly agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Slightly disagree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
The great news is that Dr. Happiness found that in America, 1/3 of people respond that they are “very happy” and only 1 in 10 claim they are “not too happy.” The majority rate themselves as “pretty happy.” He hypothesizes that we are basically programmed to be happy.
I believe that true happiness is when we are being true to the best that is within us. How happy are you? Remember that you have the amazing gift of free will. You are able to choose happiness. Here is some sage council.
“Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you! ” Christian D. Larson