A
This question deserves its own thread. 
What Shiney said. It's not like Peter Pan, where you think happy thoughts and fly!
I think one way to look at it is that thoughts change your perspective. It doesn't change your circumstance, but it does change how you deal with them.
It's the same thing as, say, a breakup. You can easily will yourself to wallow in pain and self-pity. Even when you're way past the post-breakup depression stage. You can still choose, if you want to, if you will yourself to, remember the past and have a pity party. Needless to say this leads to bad days, missed opportunities and many other things (depression which then ultimately leads to sleepless nights, which then leads to poor health, getting sick, you get the idea). And it all started with your 'willingness' to remember the past.
Now, in contrast, same example. You can (though, not easily) will yourself to get distracted so you don't find yourself wallowing in pain and self-pity. You can choose, if you want to, if you will yourself to, find something that will get your attention and take your mind off of the past. This lets you get things done. And when you get things done, there's a sense of accomplishment that comes with it, which can lead to many other things like opportunities to do more! You get the idea. But it all started with your 'unwillingness' to remember the past.
This applies to any and all circumstances. There is no circumstance that limits our will.
Another side to consider, our thoughts affect our chemical balance This backs up the idea that thoughts can lead you to be happy . It's the same as saying, happiness is a choice. I mean there are scientific facts that show you how smiling can affect your muscles
Ugh, Andrew Wommack explains this so much better and clearer than I lol. If you want, there are a few teaching resources about this. You'll be amazed at how much pain you can save yourself from, by simply starting with thoughts
What Shiney said. It's not like Peter Pan, where you think happy thoughts and fly!
I think one way to look at it is that thoughts change your perspective. It doesn't change your circumstance, but it does change how you deal with them.
It's the same thing as, say, a breakup. You can easily will yourself to wallow in pain and self-pity. Even when you're way past the post-breakup depression stage. You can still choose, if you want to, if you will yourself to, remember the past and have a pity party. Needless to say this leads to bad days, missed opportunities and many other things (depression which then ultimately leads to sleepless nights, which then leads to poor health, getting sick, you get the idea). And it all started with your 'willingness' to remember the past.
Now, in contrast, same example. You can (though, not easily) will yourself to get distracted so you don't find yourself wallowing in pain and self-pity. You can choose, if you want to, if you will yourself to, find something that will get your attention and take your mind off of the past. This lets you get things done. And when you get things done, there's a sense of accomplishment that comes with it, which can lead to many other things like opportunities to do more! You get the idea. But it all started with your 'unwillingness' to remember the past.
This applies to any and all circumstances. There is no circumstance that limits our will.
Another side to consider, our thoughts affect our chemical balance
This backs up the idea that thoughts can lead you to be happy . It's the same as saying, happiness is a choice. I mean there are scientific facts that show you how smiling can affect your muscles Ugh, Andrew Wommack explains this so much better and clearer than I lol. If you want, there are a few teaching resources about this. You'll be amazed at how much pain you can save yourself from, by simply starting with thoughts
