Finding Happiness - article by Good English Article Sites

Finding happiness is not so elusive an endeavor as you might think!

Who doesn't want to find happiness in their life? Sure, a character like Scrooge may not be interested. However, almost all of humanity makes finding happiness a primary goal. However, the answer to the question, 'What is happiness?' depends on your definition. Some people believe that happiness is dependent on external conditions, such as wealth, good looks, the admiration of others or the ideal mate. When you base finding happiness on such external criteria, you're apt to be following a path that never succeeds. Here we take another approach to achieving happiness and contentment in your life.

External conditions, such as the examples above, can change, sometimes in a heartbeat. Life is full of ups and downs, so when you hang your happiness 'hat' on concepts which are fleeting and can reverse without warning, you're fighting a losing battle. Although a few lucky individuals may attain and maintain their goals, this still doesn't explain why a wealthy person may also be extremely unhappy. If riches is your criteria for finding happiness, you may well find that, along the road of life, your financial status may eventually fail to sustain happiness. Good looks gradually fade, people who once found you worthy of admiration no longer find you and your values quite so admirable, or that ideal mate decides to fly the coop. As you go through life, your state of contentment and inward happiness can evaporate when you depend on others to provide it.

If you truly want to attain lifelong happiness, try searching inwardly. Happiness of this type is predicated on what satisfies your soul. For example, maybe your parents have pushed you to be a doctor or lawyer, telling you that this sort of success and financial gain will shield you from the ups and downs of life. You, on the other hand, have a passion for the arts. While your parents and friends mean well, pursuing a goal that gives you no personal satisfaction is ultimately a recipe for unhappiness in the future. You'll always wonder what might have been. The moral here is that finding happiness means pursuing goals which nurture your passions. While becoming an actor, artist or writer may not bring you the automatic financial security of more lucrative occupations, if your personal passions are ignited, you stand a far better chance of finding happiness that lasts.

Another point to consider when searching for lifelong contentment: too many of us 'outsource' our own contentment, depending on another individual or individuals to create our happiness. Love can be an addictive emotion, where only a mate can complete you. This idea is an easy rationalization, subjugating your personal happiness, making it the responsibility of another person. Your judgment may well be clouded by the proverbial rose colored glasses. This means you tend to overlook characteristics and traits of your mate which are problematic, while inflating those which you find 'just perfect'. This type of rationalizing tends to falter over time. It's unfortunate for both parties, as your partner may be employing the same criteria. However, the truth of the relationship eventually surfaces. Factors you and they chose to ignore in the beginning of the relationship become major annoyances. This is when the 'just perfect' patterns tend to fade, making an eventual breakup almost guaranteed.

If you rely on your good looks in finding happiness, this superficial attribute doesn't last forever. It's then that character and a joyful personality count.

It's easy to see that finding happiness in your life depends on you following your dreams, establishing criteria of an internal nature and being happy with who you are, pursuing your own natural potential. It's ironic that this is what true happiness consists of, with so few of us applying this approach.

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