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post: Mitch W. Steel (excerpt "The 3 C's") 

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.”
– Buddha

Sounds a little like a Zen riddle, doesn’t it?

And while it may sound to some like some trite slogan, these two sentences carry a world of profound truth in them. One of the saddest things I’ve seen in my life is the amount of depression that people carry with them. And I would know: I suffered from depression throughout my early 20s.

If everyone wants to be happy, then why are so many people depressed?

Well, for starters, “happiness” becomes a place or destination that is sought out “somewhere else.” People literally and figuratively seek out happiness throughout their lives. They are searching for it -– the next lover, job, house, car, etc. — and are hopeful that such external pleasures will imbibe them with happiness. Can a new car make you happy? Sure. Such happiness might last a week or it might last a year, but it’ll be temporary.

Often there will be external influences or events in your life that bring about momentary happiness, but those are likely to be fleeting, leaving you to seek the next happiness “event.” Sadly, in the meantime, you’ll be left feeling empty or lost.

Happiness is an emotion and, therefore, just like any other emotion, is controlled only by YOU! All such emotions are derived from your thoughts, and there is only one person who is in control of your thoughts!

Hence, YOU control your own happiness! This was very hard for me to wrap my head around, because of its absurd simplicity: Happiness must then be my responsibility and, ultimately, my obligation!

In fact, happiness is so essential to a fulfilling life that Aristotle once proclaimed happiness to be “man’s chief aim” in life -– “the highest good.” I was stunned when I read that. Aristotle! I believed great philosophers sat around disgruntled with it all — bored with the minions and upset with mankind for all its continued blunders. Well, that was 2,000 years ago, so I’m sure he’d be extremely pleased to see how much progress there has been since : ) .

So, let’s just run with our buddy Aristotle and his concept that happiness ought to become your chief aim in life; let’s allow him to do our homework (after all, he is one of the greatest philosophers of all time). Why not agree with that statement?

Who desires unhappiness? Seriously, nobody I know. Could it be that simple? Could this be yet another “simple, profound truth”?

Let’s dissect it further. Do you not enjoy being with happy people? Aren’t happy people more productive, supportive, generous and loving? And, here is the kicker as it relates to the three C’s of Success: How can any successful person realize his “ideal future,” that is, be successful, without being happy?

This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 12:14 am and is filed under character, happiness.