Where’s the Happiness?

Are you happy with your life the way it is? Overall, can you say you’re truly happy? If not, do you know why? Could it possibably be because you haven’t made the choice to be happy?
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When we think of being successful, we imagine that happiness is an inevitable side effect. We may envision ourselves with the perfect job, the perfect mate, the perfect children, the perfect level of income, the perfect home, the perfect car, etc. And we believe that all of that stuff will make us happy.
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However, that view is skewed. Material objects and other people cannot make us happy – only we can make ourselves happy. And it all begins with a choice to be happy.
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Maybe you have a hard time believing that, especially if you are experiencing challenges or lack in your life right now. But think about this: why do rich people still experience unhappiness? Why do successful people still experience unhappiness? Because money and success do not automatically create happiness!
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Neither do power, status, romance, or material objects. We simply believe they do because we are looking outside of ourselves for the solution to our problems.
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Intellectually, we may know that money can’t buy happiness, but some part of us still believes that we’d feel better if we were rich. Yet when we really look at wealthy people, we must wonder if they are any happier than the average person.
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Do wealthy people laugh more, experience more joy, or have greater fulfillment in their lives? Perhaps some do – but how much of it is a direct result of their wealth?
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Believe it or not some people seem to become less satisfied the wealthier they become! Perhaps they were under the misconception that money would solve all their problems and now they are finding out it doesn’t work that way.
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Having a large amount of money can create a whole new set of challenges. I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories about people who win the lottery or come into a large sum of money through an inheritance or other means. Many of them experience a few years of heartache and struggle, and end up flat broke again. Money didn’t solve their problems – it only made them worse!
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Another reason why wealth can make us miserable is that it distracts us from what is truly important for a happy and fulfilling life. We find ourselves focusing more and more on material objects and end up feeling disconnected from our inner selves.
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If you are feeling unhappy in your life right now and you’re thinking that money will solve your problems, it’s time for a reality check!
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Don’t get me wrong. I like money as much as the next guy and having a material abundance can make our lives a little easier.
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But money is not the key to happiness and lack of it is not a reason to feel unhappy. Being happy is a choice you can make right now and it doesn’t cost you a dime. You are the key to your own happiness and no amount of money will change that!