Happiness Begins Within

In all my research on happiness one thing has become readily apparent: You don't find true happiness by chasing after happiness. That may sound strange coming from me. Afterall, am I not the guy who's always encouraging you to do this, that, or the other thing in order to live a happier life?

Yep, all those little things add up. Eating meals with those you loves really does provide you with a happiness boost. As does participating in activities that put you in the flow state, put you in the groove. As does expressing gratitude, both to others and to the Universe. We could go on and on.

But in the final analysis, it's not that these external actions or things "make" you happy, it's more that they help you tap into the intrinsic happiness that is always, already there inside of you. Happiness is first and foremost about being rather than doing or having.

So, the short path to happiness is to sit down, shut up, and go within. Call it meditation, contemplation, centering prayer, or just sitting. It is the primary practice of the truly happy. It is the most direct route to your cosmic happy place. It is the simplest way for you to come home to you. And only by being the real you can you be really happy.