Jen’s Beauty Life

Recently, I read a passage from Hitori Saito’s book How to Live that quietly shifted the way I think about happiness.

In the book, Saito explains that most events in life are, in fact, neutral. There is no inherent good or bad in what happens. The same rain can feel unpleasant to one person and refreshing to another. What we call “good” or “bad” depends entirely on where we choose to place our focus.

He suggests that when something happens, we always have a choice — to look at the bright side or to dwell on the dark side. And this choice influences what happens next.

According to Saito, people for whom things seem to work out well are not necessarily luckier than others. It’s not that bad things never happen to them. Rather, they begin with the belief, “I am a happy person.” From this starting point, even difficulties become part of a happy life.

When we focus on the brighter side of a situation, we are more likely to notice opportunities, connections, and lessons that might otherwise be missed. But when we fix our attention on the negative, our mind fills with worry and fear, and we often overlook what could have helped us move forward.

Saito encourages readers to make a simple declaration:
“I am a happy person.”

And to view whatever happens — good or bad — as part of that happiness.

It’s a gentle but powerful reminder that where we place our focus can shape the way our life unfolds.