Happiness is not a feeling, it is a state of being. You cannot feel happy. What one experiences when they say they feel happy, is often one of two very different things. it is either Peace… the absence of emotional stress, conflict, or confusion; an unburdened state. Or, elation… the actual feeling of joy, a release of chemicals triggered by pleasant experiences, which triggers an enjoyable reaction (one which drives us to seek more of the same; another fix).

When you are happy, you simply are. Not for any real reason mind you, you have merely allowed yourself to be, because you wish to be… you would rather be at peace, than allow life to drag you down. If you thought about it, if some one asked you how you were feeling, you would say I feel good, or fine, or happy. But the truth is, you actually are not “feeling” anything in particular… or rather, your feelings and concerns are in that moment of no particular interest to you. They have become background noise, light, airy, and inconsequential… you simply wish to enjoy the now. In other words, you are happiest when your burdens have been lifted, when you allow yourself time to breath and let go. However, when the sense of urgency returns, when it overwhelms you, when you try desperately to control even those thing you cannot truly have influence over, those burdens disrupt this state.

Now consider the implication of what I am talking about. you may know or even be someone who seems to rely on external influences, to achieve the unburdened state require to attain some semblance of happiness. Be it substances that mitigate such feelings and worries, such as alcohol, antidepressants, or other illicit substances. To the high one gets from excessive exercise, flooding the body with endorphin, or busy social engagements distracting the mind from more concrete concerns. The thing is, many people have lost or never developed the ability to cope with life without such measures. though this doesn’t make it impossible to do so. that is because we all have the most powerful and important tool necessary for this endeavor… a mind, and the will to use it. The ability to make decision, to question, and evaluate our experience. This is what will empower our happiness, not our feelings… nut our will to take responsibility for that happiness, and do something about who we are living up to who we want to be.