happy

we need more happy.  this week i heard about a documentary called just that, "happy".  a basic idea that comes from it?  about 50% of our happiness is our genetic set-point.  of the remaining 50%, about less than 12% is actual circumstances.  the biggest factor?  our intentional actions.  that's right.  happiness really is a choice.  so maybe you can't change your dna.  (and, if you live in the northwest you might consider vitamin D supplements.) but beyond that, you are in control of your happy.  will you be buffeted into highs and lows by a mere 12% of events and happenings that are larely out of your control?  or will you be intentional about how you respond to them?  since we're dealing in percentages today, when people moan about a 10% chance of rain, for example, i love to point out that there is a 90% chance of sun.  i was actually accused of being too happy last week when trying to encourage someone who was viewing circumstances negatively.  naturally, we should be sensitive and empathetic.  denial's not ultimately healthy and we need to be in touch with reality but we also don't have to be down in the dumps in order to relate (all things being relative, one person's paper cut is another person's amputation so to speak).  and of course circumstances can't always be a non-stop party (not that i would mind if they were and do my best to insure this).  i had the chance to "collect pieces for a mosaic" when pets shattered my mirror this week before they proceded to also destroy my christmas tree, an event which i tried to reframe into "an opportunity to clean and redecorate".  i was hopping mad but also had a really good laugh about it and am considering rewriting the 12 days of christmas song, replacting the pear tree with something to the tune of "cat adoption teams..."  no matter what a day may bring, i'd like to watch the documentary (available via iTunes) and in the meantime, help put the H in happiness.  how do you stay in your Happy Place?