Ah yes, the elusive concept of happiness. The problem about happiness is that it is self-defined, but it's also something that most people will never feel they have attained. Don't worry about labeling yourself. Instead, focus on adding value, doing the best you can with what you have been given, working hard, and helping others. Besides, the idea of happiness will change over time. What you pursue as "happiness" today might seem foolish in 15 years.
"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life." - Albert Camus
In 1890, Vincent Van Gogh, overcome by feelings of worthlessness, walked out into the southern French countryside and shot himself in the gut with a pistol. Just 37, he died from the wound two days later. Yet in the previous two years - and despite his bleakness - he completed more than two hundred paintings, many of them masterpieces.
Handel, after years spent at the top of the musical world, fell into terrible poverty, ill health and deep depression. Yet from the depths of profound despair, he completed his greatest work, The Messiah.
How To Be Happy: Happiness results when our aspirations are being fulfilled and we are optimistic about the future, when we are developing our capabilities or helping others develop theirs. In short, we are happiest when happiness itself is not the goal.
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