Is it really? It’s a great line, so I can believe it.

In Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, the main character, Billy Pilgrim, had something on the wall at his office that reminds me a lot of your quote. It goes like:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

“NINE REQUISITES FOR HEALTHY LIVING:

Health enough to make work a pleasure.

Wealth enough to support your needs.

Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.

Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.

Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.

Clarity enough to see some good in your neighbor.

Love enough to move you to be useful to others.

Faith enough to make real the things of God.

Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.”

Johan Wolfgang von Goethe
German poet dramatist and scientist 1749-1832

I agree that we all have had different circumstances in life. This is what makes life so amazing; in its variety, in its different circumstances, we are allowed to blossom.

It’s easier to be happier, no doubt, when times are going well. This is because all of us still have the tendency to find happiness outside of ourselves. But the true test is whether or not you can be happy in the worst of times. Like I said in the article, I think you can be happy even in the worst of times. Why? Because being happy is a choice you, and only you, can make.

There was an interesting study done that compared the relative amount of happiness felt by paraplegics and lottery winners one year after the event (losing their limbs, winning the lottery). They both reported the same level of happiness relative to how they felt before. What does this mean?

It means that happiness can only come from within. Hedonistic desires may cause us great pleasure, but not true happiness. No amount of wealth, security, good looks, or anything external can do that.

“In other words what I appreciate–WILL APPRECIATE. Does that make any sense?” Yes! It makes perfect sense.

“50 % of our happiness is genetic, 10% is our circumstances, and 40% has to do with our habits, thoughts and behaviors.” This is where I disagree with you. 100% of our happiness is internal. It is a choice we make. I don’t even think 10% has to do with our circumstances.

I feel happiness is very attainable. After spending years reading self help books, finally the lessons I have learned are beginning to make sense.

Everything in the universe is there to support me. The universe is not against me, it is for me.
I have decided to look for the lessons and gifts that are right here in my daily life.

In other words what I appreciate–WILL APPRECIATE. Does that make any sense?

Most of us hover around our happiness set point.
50 % of our happiness is genetic, 10% is our circumstances, and 40% has to do with our habits, thoughts and behaviors.

We can raise our happiness set point without becoming thinner, richer and smarter.
We just have to decide to do it.

It really is so simple, isn’t it?

Thanks a lot!

Rebecca,

The journey begins by making the choice to be happy. It can only come from you. Nothing, and no one, can make you happy or unhappy, as it is only internal.