Hey @chbartist how's it going? Another great post with a great message. I only take issue with one part. You said, " If you are convinced that there is nothing that you can say or do to change your emotional state, to be happy, then in fact you are correct...". If this was just a misprint than I take no issue with it whatsoever. But, if it was intentional I disagree wholeheartedly. We are the only ones who can change how we feel. Through steps like identification, acknowledgement, and commitment to change (among others), we are all that stands in the way of our happiness and a more positive life. While the road to those may be difficult, they are roads we must travel nonetheless if we want more from our lives. It is unfair for us to expect the world, its people, or its situations to change to better suit our lives. We must be the ones who say, we will not stand for this, we will not accept this, or we want and deserve better, in order to change our lives for the better. Human beings have a profound capability to change the world around us, primarily our own lives, but because, as you said, we are constantly being bombarded with negativity whether it's through fear mongering in the media or depressing ass people in our lives, it may at times seem impossible. Posts like yours and mine and many others on here show that it is not impossible, quite the opposite actually. We all just have to be willing to put in the work and realize that we do deserve happy lives and that it's ok to ask others for help when we need it. I applaud your continuing efforts to spread positivity and help add value to this human experience. Well done. Take care and be well.