Looking for happiness is a lot like searching for your glasses when they’re sitting on top of your head. (Sound familiar?) We all chase after things in life that we think will make us happy, and sure, they do—for a while. But eventually, we realize the “thing” we thought was the source of our happiness was just a “thing.” The happiness fades, and we’re left with the thing—a new car, a new relationship, or more money—that no longer seems to do the trick. So, what’s the deal? Is happiness just temporary while the “things” stick around?
Not exactly. The problem isn’t that happiness is temporary—it’s that we project our happiness onto these “things.” For example, we think money is making us happy, but then there are times we feel unhappy even when we have money. At some point, the happiness and the thing split apart, and we’re back to wondering where our happiness went.
Here’s the surprising truth: happiness isn’t something out there to find—it’s already in you. In fact, it is you. You can never actually be without happiness because it’s part of who you are. It’s like those glasses—you just have to realize they’ve been on your head the whole time.
The real culprit behind unhappiness is the chatter in our minds—the thoughts that convince us we’re not good enough, talented enough, lucky enough, or spiritual enough. When we believe those thoughts, they cloud our awareness of our true nature, which is peaceful, still, and yes, happy. It’s like looking through a dirty window—you can’t see the light clearly because of all the grime.
This is why it feels like things in life bring us happiness. For a little while, those things quiet the noise in our minds, and in that silence, we get a glimpse of our true nature. But the problem is, we focus on the things themselves instead of the deeper stillness within us that’s actually the source of our happiness.
The key is to stop looking to external things and start turning inward. When you reconnect with your inner self, you realize that happiness isn’t something you have to chase—it’s who you are. And once you’ve made that connection, it’s like carrying a lamp wherever you go. It lights up everything in your life, no matter what’s happening around you. It can’t be taken away or extinguished because it’s your essence.
You’ve been the happiness you’re seeking all along. You just needed to remember.