What Charlie Sheen Don't Know About Happy

Charlie Sheen, the Poster Boy of Pleasure, seems mighty unhappy lately. He's got it all -- talent, good looks, fame and fortune, and yet, he continues to flame out in epic proportions. (OK, maybe he's lacking in intelligence, but really you don't have to be Einstein to be happy).

In case you're just coming out of your winter hibernation and have missed Charlie's antics, here are a few signs of unhappiness that he's displayed:

* Overindulging on regular and consistent basis

* Wasting resources (talent, money, connections, etc.)

* Attacking others, whether verbally or physically

* Displaying a profound lack of gratitude for his good fortune

* Generally being an asshole

And while it's easy to point fingers at a Hollywood bad boy, the same signs apply to us all. If you're displaying any of the symptoms listed above, you're somehow out of touch with true happiness.

Charlie's approach seems to be if you're unhappy, pile on the pleasure. The only problem is: That approach doesn't work. Massive amounts of pleasure do not produce long term happiness, or even short term happiness.

Happiness begins within.

It's as simple as that. If you're unhappy don't go chasing after the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, go within. Find the source of your unhappiness and your natural happiness will return. Remove the clouds and indeed the sun is always there.

So, what's the real lesson here, what can we learn from Charlie's continued meltdowns? Having it all isn't what it's all about. Whenever you start to think, "I'd be happy if..." you know you're on the wrong track. Any happiness that is predicated upon externals is not true happiness.

That's it. We'll let Charlie be our negative role model, we'll learn from his mistakes (OPM -- other people's mistakes -- is one of the most cost-effective ways to learn), and, of course, we'll wish him luck in finding his own happiness post haste.