Happiness can be infectious. Happiness goes deep within, to banish the stale, negative, in-grained emotions, thoughts and energy, to achieve a peaceful contentment or Nirvana.

A forced smile. A deep forced laugh. Even forced behavior. The choice to engage that positive action is a trigger that conditions your brain to release tension, intensity and negative or stale energy. Behavior conditions attitude. Through the decision to force yourself to behave happy, you open and prepare your heart and mind to happiness.

Try it. Laughter therapy is real. Smile therapy is real. I tried it this morning.

I took huge, deep, gulping breaths and then laughed deeply, ridiculously. Once, twice. It sounded stupid. I felt idiotic. Then I began to laugh at myself for real. And all the stress that I’d been feeling for the last 24 hours fell away. I smiled… not a sticker smile that hurts your cheeks. But a real smile… I wasn’t necessarily happy at that moment. But I made a conscious choice to start my day on the right foot.

And you know what?

It’s been a great day so far.

Happiness goes deep. You just have to CHOOSE IT.