“Tell everyone you know: “My happiness depends on me, so you’re off the hook.” And then demonstrate it. Be happy, no matter what they’re doing. Practice feeling good, no matter what. And before you know it, you will not give anyone else responsibility for the way you feel-and then, you’ll love them all. Because the only reason you don’t love them, is because you’re using them as your excuse to not feel good.”
~Esther Abraham-Hicks
This seems like such a simple principle, yet it is so difficult to actually live by. Don’t we often think that our happiness depends on someone else?
If I only had that loving partner, a reliable best friend, more compassionate parents etc., then I could be happy!
Or we think the situation we are in causes our unhappiness. If only I had my dream job, won the lottery, got that promotion etc., then I would be truly happy! It’s so much easier to blame others or the situation!
The truth is that it is not somebody else’s responsibility to make us happy. Other people have their own ups and downs and can’t always be there to make us happy. But we can take responsibility for our own happiness. We can love ourselves and we can make ourselves happy. Then other people in our lives can add to our already existing happiness. And we can add to theirs. =)
If you took full responsibility for your own happiness, what would you do today?
Manuela loves helping smart and creative women bring more balance, happiness and success into their lives through Professional Life Coaching!