--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is a conscious choice, not an…" description: "\"Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response\" — Mildred Barthel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg" --- # Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response ![“Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response” quote by Mildred Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg) > “Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response” [Mildred Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-barthel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness is a deliberate choice, not an automatic reaction to events. **In simple terms:** Choose happiness consciously. Key Takeaway Decide to be happy daily. Themes mindset choice happiness psychology well‑being Mood inspirational optimistic Type Choice:1 Conscious:1 Happiness:1 Conscious Choice:1 Happiness Conscious:1 Choice Automatic:0 When to use this quote - daily journaling - mindfulness practice - goal setting Key Concepts volitional control cognitive reframing positive psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose happiness during hardship? - What habits support conscious joy? A Different Perspective External circumstances can overwhelm choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Automatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-automatic-4574650/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Conscious Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-choice-268318/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-conscious-1543654/) ## Related quotes > [For me, choosing happiness has to be something that's conscious, a choice, something I act on. And I think this is something really difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loung-ung/for-me-choosing-happiness-has-to-be-something-that-s-conscious-a/) [Loung Ung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loung-ung/) > [Nothing can make you happier than you are. All search for happiness is misery and leads to more misery. The only happiness worth the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/nothing-can-make-you-happier-than-you-are-all-search-for-happiness-is/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Become very conscious of every choice you make today so you can begin to make smarter choices moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/become-very-conscious-of-every-choice-you-make-today-so-you-can-begin/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [“You have the freedom and the ability to decide what to do with your life, and that includes learning how to welcome happiness again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-vry/you-have-the-freedom-and-the-ability-to-decide-what-to-do-with-your/) [Becca Vry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-vry/) > [Nothing is a conscious choice as an actor at the begining stage. There's so little that's a conscious choice even now. The offers, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-grunberg/nothing-is-a-conscious-choice-as-an-actor-at-the-begining-stage-there/) [Greg Grunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-grunberg/) > [“Human agency, the ability to affect the surrounding world, may be a result not so simply of conscious choice - but instead a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wikipedia/human-agency-the-ability-to-affect-the-surrounding-world-may-be-a/) [Wikipedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wikipedia/) > [If you find yourself saying things like, "I'm hitting the age where I'll need reading glasses," "I'm too old to try yoga (or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-find-yourself-saying-things-like-i-m-hitting-the-age-where-i/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [By becoming a conscious choice-maker, you begin to generate actions that are evolutionary for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-becoming-a-conscious-choice-maker-you-begin-to-generate-actions/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The birth of excellence begins with our awareness that our beliefs are a choice. We usually don't think of it that way, but belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-birth-of-excellence-begins-with-our-awareness-that-our-beliefs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your mind is open to opposing ideas, your intelligence will go up. If your mind is closed to opposing ideas, your ignorance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-your-mind-is-open-to-opposing-ideas-your-intelligence-will-go-up/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Whenever a person is ignoring me, what they're actually doing is making a conscious choice to communicate that I'm not important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-a-person-is-ignoring-me-what-they-re-actually-doing-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heatherash-amara/change-is-inevitable-but-transformation-is-by-conscious-choice/) [HeatherAsh Amara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heatherash-amara/) > [Every actor wants to show a good and deep range, so you look at all the elements here, and you make a conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-keoghan/every-actor-wants-to-show-a-good-and-deep-range-so-you-look-at-all/) [Barry Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-keoghan/) > [You've got to make a conscious choice every day to shed the old - whatever "the old" means for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/you-ve-got-to-make-a-conscious-choice-every-day-to-shed-the-old/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [I made a conscious choice to turn down some movies that were action-based, so that I could direct Road to Paloma and show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-made-a-conscious-choice-to-turn-down-some-movies-that-were-action/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) ## More by Mildred Barthel > [Happiness is doing - not having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-barthel/happiness-is-doing-not-having/) [Mildred Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-barthel/) [Explore all 2 Mildred Barthel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-barthel/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mildred Barthel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-barthel/happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-automatic-response/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-barthel/happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-automatic-response/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/mildred-barthel-99440_choice_happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-a_2971104.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response” — Mildred Barthel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mildred Barthel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-barthel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Happiness is a conscious choice, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-barthel/happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-automatic-response/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-barthel/happiness-is-a-conscious-choice-not-an-automatic-response/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```