Happiness

It doesn't fly in with a bluebird. There are a lot of people right now setting goals to get richer, thinner, or more powerful. They feel if they attain these things that happiness will ensue. However, happiness has no correlation to any of these things in particular. Happiness is a by-product of a life full of learning, growth, and concentrated work. Yes, that's right, to attain a state of happiness means we never stop learning, growing and getting into a state of "Flow" (Flow is the term Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi uses in his classic book "Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience"). So set your goals but realize that happiness won't come form their achievement....it comes in the process.

Here are some thoughts from some really smart people:

"Happiness is not a goal...it's a by-product of a life well lived."

~ Eleanor Roosevelt~

"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it."

~Andy Rooney~

"Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue...as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a course greater than oneself."

~Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience~