Happiness is not like a swimming pool. You can not just jump into it and paddle around whenever you want. Nor is it a special room you can walk into whenever you need uplifting.

What happens in your mind is not reality, it is your interpretation of reality. Reality is 'out there'.
So, your interpretation of happiness is very personal.

Happiness is a state of mind. Happiness is a momentary emotional jolt of elation that you feel when you
recognize what you wanted to happen has actually happened. Happiness is best identified when viewed a moment after it has happen, looking back on the past.

You may ask yourself "How will I know when I am happy?" If you know what you want from life, what you are willing to do and what you need to be happy, you are more likely to experience more frequent moments of happiness.

If what you want coincides with what is happening, you will have a moment of satisfaction, a moment of
feeling in balance, a moment of feeling in control of your life. That is certainly my definition of happiness.

Timothy Ferriss author of 'The 4 Hour Workweek' contrasts happiness and boredom. Boredom, he says, is the opposite of happiness. And too much happiness would soon result in boredom.

As the saying goes you can have too much of a good thing. Happiness is better in small doses and contrasted with moments of less happiness. Everyone has their own definition of happiness. The important question is not 'What is happiness?' as much as 'What does happiness means to you?'

My wife and I once had a Brazilian woman boarding with us while she studied English at the local college. She had been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, as the expression goes. Knowing very little about Brazil, we asked her how she felt about having so much while others had so little. She replied, "Knowing what they know, and having what they have,  they seem to be very happy people." She wasn't responsible for their happiness, only her own.

You can not make someone else happy or unhappy, unless they allow themselves to buy into your actions. Their behavior is not your responsibility. Yours is. So why would you allow them to dictate your behavior? You can choose whatever response you want. Happiness is a choice you make.

To be happy, you must know three things:<br>

    1. Take responsibility for all your behavior. Stop blaming others for your lack of happiness.
       You control your mind. Define happiness, and success, for yourself.<br>

    2. Decide what you want from life. Say what you expect to happen in your life. Be persistent in getting it.<br>

    3. Be grateful when small successes come your way; knowing what you know, you too can be happy.<br>

Happiness is not a brick wall you can reach out and touch. Happiness is your private dream coming true.