I’ve heard that genetics and environmental influences account for roughly half of our overall happiness, and the other half is our thoughts and actions.

The good news about past negative environmental influences is they can often be overcome through counseling and recovery programs. The bad news is that it’s easy to let our past determine our future potential for happiness by telling ourselves we are powerless over it, when really the opposite is true.

If we’ve been trained to think one way, then it’s certainly possible to retrain our brain to think differently.

Over the years I’ve worked hard to think more positively and the results have been pretty astounding. I’m about 80 percent happier than I was 10 years ago.

Is there something that’s keeping you from letting yourself be happy today? Don’t let it be past circumstances. And don’t believe the lie that fate will have its’ way.

Although bad things happen, often times our thoughts and decisions have more of an impact on our lives than the things out of our control.

Jodie Stevens