Happiness

"The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things."

-- Epictetus

Most of us see happiness as a crap shoot. Sometimes we're happy, sometimes we're not. Sure, we can up our happiness quotient by getting more, having more and doing more of what we like, but what happens when our desires go unfulfilled? Unhappiness.

Quite frankly, that's a piss poor way to live.

There are just way too many uncontrollable factors in life to base your happiness on getting what you want. What then shall it be based upon? Nothing.

That's right, true happiness is based on nothing whatsoever. It is instead an inherent component of existence itself. Tune into life at a deeper level, and you can''t help but be happy, regardless of what's happening externally.

I know this flies in the face of the catechism of our consumerist culture. Madison Avenue, Wall Street, and even Bentonville Arkansas, would have you believe that happiness is just one more purchase away. At least until it's time to make the nest purchase.

Trouble is, happiness cannot be bought or sold. Sure, you get a little mini-rush when you acquire that new 42 inch flat screen TV, but how long will that faux happiness last? About as long as it takes you to start jonesing for the next gotta have item that you see advertised, large than life on your brand new TV!

I'm not saying that you should dress in a hair shirt and live in a musty old cave somewhere. I am saying stuff is just stuff. Choose to be happy, regardless of what you have. Discover happiness within rather than chase it without. Things, experiences, even people, will come and go. Happiness can abide. You can radiate it. The choice is yours.