Upside-Down Wisdom #16: Choosing Happiness

“Happiness is a choice.”

“Happiness is a choice.”

You’ve heard it before.
Framed like a motivational poster.
Pasted across sunsets and smiling faces.

Just choose happiness.
Flip the switch.
Decide to feel good.

But here’s the thing:

That’s upside-down.

Because happiness isn’t a task—it’s a byproduct.
It’s not a decision—it’s what shows up when thought clears.

Try to “choose” it, and you’re back in your head.
Monitoring your mood.
Judging your experience.
Wondering what you’re doing wrong if joy doesn’t show up.

But happiness isn’t something you force.
It’s what flows when you’re not trying so hard.

You don’t need to choose it.
You need to stop chasing it.

Happiness isn’t hiding.
It’s just buried under the noise.

When your mind settles, joy sneaks back in—quiet, simple, obvious.

Here’s today’s Upside-Down Wisdom:
Happiness isn’t a decision—it’s what’s left when the mental noise dies down.

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This is Upside-Down Wisdom—a series where we flip the script on the conventional "wisdom" we've been taught. If you would like to read other posts in this series, please visit the Upside-Down Wisdom page.