Happiness Comes From Within

“When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wrote down ‘happy’.  They told me I didn’t understand the assignment; I told them they didn’t understand life.”

-John Lennon

It doesn’t matter whether you’re five or ninety-five, male or female, introvert or extrovert, American or Saudi Arabian, we all want the same basic thing in life: happiness.  I used to think that if only certain things in my life would happen, then I would be happy.  I thought happiness was something that I could achieve through external means.  Once I got my dream job, the body I want, more money, the perfect boyfriend, people who admired and looked up to me—once I had attained all of these prerequisites—then and only then could I be truly happy.

I’ve only recently adopted the belief that happiness is not dependent upon circumstances, but rather is a state of mind.  I’ve struggled with this concept because when I do something I enjoy, accomplish a goal, or spend quality time with someone I love, I feel happy.  These things make me happy…or so I thought.  Well, therein lies the difference between pleasure and happiness.  Pleasure is fleeting, shallow gratification which is experienced only through external means.  However, happiness is something you can attain through meditation and the power of positive thinking.  With practice and the right attitude, I’ve learned that anyone can achieve happiness regardless of your current life situation.  The bonus is that when you are truly happy and optimistic, your positive attitude is contagious, and others will enjoy being around you.

It’s important (and probably obvious) to note that happy people are not happy all the time.  Everyone experiences sadness and grief sometimes.  In addition, it’s not always easy to just “be happy” when life’s dealt you unfortunate circumstances and events.  Choosing to be happy and maintain optimism during life’s struggles can be incredibly challenging, and at times may seem nearly impossible.  So this begs the question, why are some people more fulfilled, optimistic, and in general, more happy than others?  Do they just have all the luck in life? 

I’ve chosen to believe (and my personal experience with positive thinking has vindicated my belief), that optimism is the key to happiness.  But there has to be more to it than that, right?  I decided to look up and see what research in the area shows:

“Studies on what makes people happy reveal that it doesn’t have much to do with material goods or high achievement; it seems to whittle down to your outlook on life, and the quality of your relationships with the people around you” (Herrick, J., et al.).

It comforts me to know that I have the power within me to attain happiness, and that enriching relationships with loved ones who offer me courage and support definitely attribute to my emotional wellbeing. 

To me, this is all such exciting news.  Of course, I still have plenty of goals for the future.  My road to self-discovery has not ended, and I hope to continue improving myself as a person until the day I die.  But it’s great to know that I have the key to happiness, and I can experience it right here, right now, just where I’m at in life.  I hold the power to true happiness within me; I just have to recognize that and enjoy it.