[b]Too many people think of happiness as the ultimate goal of life. But, if you're waiting for happiness to arrive then it's likely that it never will!
You convince yourself that life will be happy when you're married. When the mortgage is paid off. When you have children. When the weekend arrives. Next summer. Whatever particular dream you have, you're sure that when you reach it you'll finally be happy.
Unfortunately, this way of thinking is a trap. You're always wanting something more, always looking forward to a time when you'll be "happy". And, if you fall into this trap, you'll never reach that goal. When you get married, you might wish your partner was more affectionate or more proactive. When you have children, you might find their young age restrictive and long for them to grow up too quickly. When you've paid off that mortgage you might long for a better house, a better neighborhood, a better car. Life will pass you by with that goal of happiness forever in sight but never quite in reach.
Happiness should not be your life's goal, it should be your life! The only time to be happy is right now! It's state of mind, not a set of accomplishments or the accumulation of material things. There is no time to achieve happiness other than right now. You must accept that life will always have challenges and things will not always go your way and make the decision to be happy right now.
Instead of feeling disappointed when things don't work out the way you'd hoped, feel grateful for the experience. Instead of dreaming of a brighter, happier, richer tomorrow, make today as wonderful as you can. Treasure each moment that you have air in your lungs and treasure the people you share those moments with.
Alfred D. Souza put this perfectly when he said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."
His perspective helped me to see that happiness is a conscious decision and that I can make it right now. He's not saying that having dreams, goals and ambitions is a bad thing. Thinking of the future and having aspirations is essential to leading a happy and fulfilled life. The trick is not to let thoughts of the future overshadow your enjoyment of the present and the appreciation of the things and people you have in your life right now!
There is no way to happiness: happiness is the way!
Stop waiting to meet your soulmate, to get married, to have children, to pay off your mortgage. For Friday night, for payday, for the summer time. Stop waiting for happiness to arrive and simply decide to be happy! It's not some great goal or destination, it's a journey and a way of life. Why not try it out today?
Work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
And dance like no one's watching![/b]
