Being able to manifest positive emotions and happiness is perhaps one of the greatest gifts you have been given as a human being. But to some extent, being happy is a choice you need to make, much like choosing to exercise or eat right.

In reality, YOU are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your potential for happiness.

Once you realize this simple premise, it is actually quite liberating. You don’t have to feel bad because you’re getting older, or because your life isn’t going exactly as you had planned. You actually don’t have to feel bad for any reason at all, once you make your mind up to be happy.

In a sense, this allows you to give yourself permission to experience happiness in your day-to-day life.

In all fairness, no one is happy all of the time. And that is just fine. Accepting that there will be times when you feel down is all part of being happy overall. But if you want to be one of those people who seem to be all smiles and optimism nearly all of the time, all it takes is your decision to do it … along with some attention to your emotional energy.

The more you smile, the more you laugh and the more you try to look on the bright side of life, the better your life will be. In other words, whatever you focus your attention on you tend to manifest in your life, so it’s far better to focus on positive goals and outcomes.

As much as possible try to arrange your life around your true passions. What is it that motivates you? What is it that makes you feel like an excited kid again?

Happiness is that which makes you jump out of bed in the morning with eager anticipation to start your day -- to engage passionately in your chosen activities. Identify this for yourself, and follow your heart to pursue it, and the optimist in you will come out naturally.