I don’t have a specific word in mind that I use often and wish to let go of—but if there’s one word we should remove from our subconscious, it’s:

“unhappy”

Happiness is not a person, a place, or a moment in time. It’s not a collection of material things or the result of actions we take—or fail to take. Happiness is a state of mind.

It’s a decision.

I don’t understand when people say they’re not happy. There’s so much to be grateful for. Many things in our lives can be worse, but aren’t. Yes, it’s true: things could be better. But they could also be much worse. And in the blink of an eye, everything can change.

That’s why happiness is a choice we make every morning—and it begins with gratitude.