“Nothing can bring you happiness but yourself.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote, because so many times we are looking, searching, chasing, struggling, waiting, wanting, working, trying to find happiness. But, the thing is we have everything we need to be happy right now, in this moment, regardless of circumstances. Make the choice- to be happy.

I love Emerson’s simple wisdom. And, I think everyone actually knows this. I mean, most people know that a job can’t make you happy, a partner can’t make you happy, a house can’t make you happy, (etc. etc. etc.) if you first are not happy within yourself.

Now, I realize you may also be thinking something like this:

“I have responsibilities- why should I think about myself being happy when I have children to raise, work that needs to get done, bills that need to be paid. Silly, Jennifer, get out of the clouds and back to reality. I am fine.”

I get it. I understand. I thought that before, I know many of people who think like that still. But, “fine” is one thing. Fine may get us by day to day. Recognize that joy, contentment, peace, this is the foundation to a full life-  a gift, we can easily take for granted.

Talking about happiness is not really effective, because as Emerson points of, I can’t make you happy. It must come from within. And then, when we are happy, everyone around us is happy. Our minds are sharper, our awareness is heightened. Work gets done better, relationships improve. We become more productive, yet we simplify our lives to distill down to what is important. We attract joyful people around us (both business and personal), and we are healthier, inside and out.

Isn’t that what it’s all about- enjoying life, being at peace, just “being”? After all, philosophers, poets, psychologists, people, have studied and examined happiness for centuries. We are each blessed with the power to choose to be happy, and do that which makes us happy.