Why It's Our Responsibility to Pursue Our Own Happiness

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed By their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence does not guarantee happiness. It does, however, make it very clear that it is our responsibility to pursue our own happiness. Only we can see our dreams and only we can live them. And if we can’t make ourselves happy, or be happy with ourselves, it’s a good bet that we will not be able to help anyone else.

Making yourself happy can be difficult today with all of the business challenges that surround us. We are being bombarded every day to the point that we sometimes find it hard to fight off negative distractions and stay focused. When this happens we allow ourselves to be the victim of ours, or others, circumstances as opposed to being the master of them. We rapidly approach overload and get consumed with minutia, worrying about what will happen next! We start to lose sight of our ability to achieve our goals. When this happens, our first priority is to gain back control, get back on track, and take charge of our destiny.

Related: The Benefits of Being in the Moment

It’s time to start focusing on possibilities, rather than on distractions, limits and obstacles. When you focus just on the negative you begin to build and place additional – and imaginary – limits on yourself. Real limits will not box you in because you can always find a way to deal with them. It is the false ones you are carrying around in your mind that become the self-imposed prison of your dreams, goals and personal happiness. Doubt is what does the most damage— don’t give it any mental space.

The one thing you do have absolute, complete and total control over is your mind and the thoughts you chose to harbor in it.

So like the song says, “Be happy.” But to be happy requires work on your part. Start every day in a positive and focused way. If you do, then you will end every day the same way—maybe even better.