The Path to Happiness

"During my whole life I have not had twenty-four hours of happiness." So said Prince Bismarck, one of the greatest statesmen of the nineteenth century. Eighty-three years of wealth, fame, honors, power, influence, prosperity and triumph, – years when he held an empire in his fingers, – but not one day of happiness!

"During my whole life, I have not had twenty-four hours of happiness." So said Prince Bismarck, one of the greatest statesmen of the nineteenth century. For eighty-three years, he had wealth, fame, honors, power, influence, prosperity, and triumph. He held an empire in his hands. But he did not have one day of happiness!

Happiness is the greatest paradox in Nature. It can grow in any soil, live under any conditions. It defies environment. It comes from within; it is the revelation of the depths of the inner life as light and heat proclaim the sun from which they radiate. Happiness consists not of having, but of being; not of possessing, but of enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself. A martyr at the stake may have happiness that a king on his throne might envy. Man is the creator of his own happiness; it is the aroma of a life lived in harmony with high ideals. For what a man has, he may be dependent on others; what he is, rests with him alone. What he _ob_tains in life is but acquisition; what he _at_tains, is growth. Happiness is the soul's joy in the possession of the intangible. Absolute, perfect, continuous happiness in life, is impossible for the human. It would mean the consummation of attainments, the individual consciousness of a perfectly fulfilled destiny. Happiness is paradoxic because it may coexist with trial, sorrow and poverty. It is the gladness of the heart, – rising superior to all conditions.

Happiness is the greatest paradox in nature. It can grow in any soil and survive under any conditions. It defies its surroundings. It comes from within, revealing the depths of our inner life. In the same way, light and heat reveal the sun from which they shine. Happiness is not about having, but about being. It is not about possessing, but about enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself. A martyr at the stake may have happiness that a king on his throne might envy. We create our own happiness. It is the fragrance of a life lived in harmony with high ideals. We may depend on others for what we have, but what we are rests with us alone. What we _ob_tain in life is something we acquire. What we _at_tain is growth. Happiness is the soul's joy in possessing what cannot be touched. Absolute, perfect, continuous happiness in life is impossible for human beings. It would mean that we had achieved everything and knew we had completely fulfilled our destiny. Happiness is a paradox because it can exist alongside hardship, sorrow, and poverty. It is the joy of the heart, rising above all conditions.

Happiness has a number of under-studies, – gratification, satisfaction, content, and pleasure, – clever imitators that simulate its appearance rather than emulate its method. Gratification is a harmony between our desires and our possessions. It is ever incomplete, it is the thankful acceptance of part. It is a mental pleasure in the quality of what one receives, an unsatisfiedness as to the quantity. It may be an element in happiness, but, in itself, – it is not happiness.

Happiness has several stand-ins: gratification, satisfaction, contentment, and pleasure. They are clever imitators that copy its appearance rather than its way of working. Gratification is harmony between what we desire and what we possess. It is always incomplete, a grateful acceptance of only part of what we want. It is pleasure in the quality of what we receive, but dissatisfaction with the quantity. Gratification may be part of happiness, but it is not happiness in itself.

Satisfaction is perfect identity of our desires and our possessions. It exists only so long as this perfect union and unity can be preserved. But every realized ideal gives birth to new ideals, every step in advance reveals large domains of the unattained; every feeding stimulates new appetites, – then the desires and possessions are no longer identical, no longer equal; new cravings call forth new activities, the equipoise is destroyed, and dissatisfaction reënters. Man might possess everything tangible in the world and yet not be happy, for happiness is the satisfying of the soul, not of the mind or the body. Dissatisfaction, in its highest sense, is the keynote of all advance, the evidence of new aspirations, the guarantee of the progressive revelation of new possibilities.

Satisfaction is a perfect match between what we desire and what we possess. It lasts only as long as that perfect match remains. But every ideal we achieve gives rise to new ideals. Every step forward reveals vast areas we have yet to reach. Every time we feed an appetite, we stir new ones. Then our desires and possessions no longer match. New cravings lead to new actions, the balance is broken, and dissatisfaction returns. A person might possess everything tangible in the world and still not be happy. Happiness comes from satisfying the soul, not the mind or the body. In its highest sense, dissatisfaction is the driving force behind all progress. It shows that we have new aspirations and guarantees that new possibilities will continue to reveal themselves.

Content is a greatly overrated virtue. It is a kind of diluted despair; it is the feeling with which we continue to accept substitutes, without striving for the realities. Content makes the trained individual swallow vinegar and try to smack his lips as if it were wine. Content enables one to warm his hands at the fire of a past joy that exists only in memory. Content is a mental and moral chloroform that deadens the activities of the individual to rise to higher planes of life and growth. Man should never be contented with anything less than the best efforts of his nature can possibly secure for him. Content makes the world more comfortable for the individual, but it is the death-knell of progress. Man should be content with each step of progress merely as a station, discontented with it as a destination; contented with it as a step; discontented with it as a finality. There are times when a man should be content with what he has, but never with what he is.

Contentment is a greatly overrated virtue. It is a kind of diluted despair. It is the feeling that lets us keep accepting substitutes without striving for the real thing. Contentment trains people to swallow vinegar and smack their lips as if it were wine. It lets them warm their hands at the fire of a past joy that exists only in memory. Contentment is a mental and moral anesthetic. It dulls the drive to reach higher levels of life and growth. People should never be content with less than their best efforts can possibly gain them. Contentment makes the world more comfortable for the individual, but it is the death of progress. People should be content with each step of progress as a stopping point, but not as a destination. They should be content with it as a step, but not as the end. There are times when people should be content with what they have, but never with what they are.

But content is not happiness; neither is pleasure. Pleasure is temporary, happiness is continuous; pleasure is a note, happiness is a symphony; pleasure may exist when conscience utters protests; happiness, – never. Pleasure may have its dregs and its lees; but none can be found in the cup of happiness.

But contentment is not happiness, and neither is pleasure. Pleasure is temporary, while happiness is continuous. Pleasure is a single note, while happiness is a symphony. Pleasure can exist even when your conscience protests. Happiness never can. Pleasure may leave a bitter residue, but the cup of happiness holds none.

Man is the only animal that can be really happy. To the rest of the creation belong only weak imitations of the understudies. Happiness represents a peaceful attunement of a life with a standard of living. It can never be made by the individual, by himself, for himself. It is one of the incidental by-products of an unselfish life. No man can make his own happiness the one object of his life and attain it, any more than he can jump on the far end of his shadow. If you would hit the bull's-eye of happiness on the target of life, aim above it. Place other things higher than your own happiness and it will surely come to you. You can buy pleasure, you can acquire content, you can become satisfied, – but Nature never put real happiness on the bargain-counter. It is the undetachable accompaniment of true living. It is calm and peaceful; it never lives in an atmosphere of worry or of hopeless struggle.

Humans are the only animals that can be truly happy. The rest of creation has only weak imitations of happiness. Happiness comes when a life is peacefully in tune with a standard of living. No one can create happiness alone, just for themselves. It is one of the incidental results of an unselfish life. No one can make happiness their sole aim in life and achieve it. That is no more possible than jumping on the far end of your shadow. If you want to hit the bull's-eye of happiness on the target of life, aim above it. Put other things ahead of your own happiness, and it will surely come to you. You can buy pleasure, find contentment, and become satisfied. But Nature never put real happiness on sale. It is inseparable from living a true life. Happiness is calm and peaceful. It never lives in an atmosphere of worry or hopeless struggle.

The basis of happiness is the love of something outside self. Search every instance of happiness in the world, and you will find, when all the incidental features are eliminated, there is always the constant, unchangeable element of love, – love of parent for child; love of man and woman for each other; love of humanity in some form, or a great life work into which the individual throws all his energies.

Happiness is based on love for something outside yourself. Look at every instance of happiness in the world and set aside the incidental details. You will always find the same unchanging element: love. It may be a parent’s love for a child, or the love between a man and a woman. It may be love for humanity in some form, or a great life’s work to which a person gives all their energy.

Happiness is the voice of optimism, of faith, of simple, steadfast love. No cynic or pessimist can be really happy. A cynic is a man who is morally near-sighted, – and brags about it. He sees the evil in his own heart, and thinks he sees the world. He lets a mote in his eye eclipse the sun. An incurable cynic is an individual who should long for death, – for life cannot bring him happiness, death might. The keynote of Bismarck's lack of happiness was his profound distrust of human nature.

Happiness is the voice of optimism, faith, and simple, steadfast love. No cynic or pessimist can be truly happy. A cynic is morally nearsighted and brags about it. He sees the evil in his own heart and thinks he sees the world. He lets a speck in his eye block out the sun. A hopeless cynic should long for death. Life cannot bring him happiness, but death might. Bismarck's deep distrust of human nature was the central cause of his unhappiness.

There is a royal road to happiness; it lies in Consecration, Concentration, Conquest and Conscience.

There is a clear path to happiness: dedication, focus, conquest, and conscience.

Consecration is dedicating the individual life to the service of others, to some noble mission, to realizing some unselfish ideal. Life is not something to be lived through; it is something to be lived up to. It is a privilege, not a penal servitude of so many decades on earth. Consecration places the object of life above the mere acquisition of money, as a finality. The man who is unselfish, kind, loving, tender, helpful, ready to lighten the burden of those around him, to hearten the struggling ones, to forget himself sometimes in remembering others, – is on the right road to happiness. Consecration is ever active, bold and aggressive, fearing naught but possible disloyalty to high ideals.

Consecration means dedicating your life to serving others, pursuing a noble mission, or living up to an unselfish ideal. Life is not something to get through. It is something to live up to. It is a privilege, not a prison sentence of so many decades on earth. Consecration gives life a higher purpose than simply making money for its own sake. A person who is unselfish, kind, loving, gentle, and helpful is on the right road to happiness. So is someone ready to lighten others’ burdens, encourage those who struggle, and sometimes forget themselves by thinking of others. Consecration is always active, bold, and forceful. It fears nothing except the possibility of betraying high ideals.

Concentration makes the individual life simpler and deeper. It cuts away the shams and pretences of modern living and limits life to its truest essentials. Worry, fear, useless regret, – all the great wastes that sap mental, moral or physical energy must be sacrificed, or the individual needlessly destroys half the possibilities of living. A great purpose in life, something that unifies the strands and threads of each day's thinking, something that takes the sting from the petty trials, sorrows, sufferings and blunders of life, is a great aid to Concentration. Soldiers in battle may forget their wounds, or even be unconscious of them, in the inspiration of battling for what they believe is right. Concentration dignifies an humble life; it makes a great life, – sublime. In morals it is a short-cut to simplicity. It leads to right for right's sake, without thought of policy or of reward. It brings calm and rest to the individual, – a serenity that is but the sunlight of happiness.

Concentration makes life simpler and deeper. It cuts away the false appearances and pretenses of modern life, leaving only what truly matters. We must give up worry, fear, useless regret, and all the other great wastes that drain mental, moral, or physical energy. Otherwise, we needlessly destroy half the possibilities of living. A great purpose in life is a great help to concentration. It brings together the strands and threads of each day’s thoughts. It also takes the sting out of life’s petty trials, sorrows, suffering, and mistakes. Soldiers in battle may forget their wounds, or not even notice them, as they fight for what they believe is right. Concentration gives dignity to a humble life. It makes a great life sublime. In matters of morality, it is a shortcut to simplicity. It leads us to do right for its own sake, without thinking of advantage or reward. It brings calm and rest, a serenity that is the very sunlight of happiness.

Conquest is the overcoming of an evil habit, the rising superior to opposition and attack, the spiritual exaltation that comes from resisting the invasion of the grovelling material side of life. Sometimes when you are worn and weak with the struggle; when it seems that justice is a dream, that honesty and loyalty and truth count for nothing, that the devil is the only good paymaster; when hope grows dim and flickers, then is the time when you must tower in the great sublime faith that Right must prevail, then must you throttle these imps of doubt and despair, you must master yourself to master the world around you. This is Conquest; this is what counts. Even a log can float with the current, it takes a man to fight sturdily against an opposing tide that would sweep his craft out of its course. When the jealousies, the petty intrigues and the meannesses and the misunderstandings in life assail you, – rise above them. Be like a lighthouse that illumines and beautifies the snarling, swashing waves of the storm that threaten it, that seek to undermine it and seek to wash over it. This is Conquest. When the chance to win fame, wealth, success or the attainment of your heart's desire, by sacrifice of honor or principle, comes to you and it does not affect you long enough even to seem a temptation, you have been the victor. That too is Conquest. And Conquest is part of the royal road to Happiness.

Conquest is overcoming a bad habit and rising above opposition and attack. It is the spiritual uplift that comes from resisting the intrusion of life's base material side. Sometimes you are tired and weak from the struggle. Justice seems like a dream, and honesty, loyalty, and truth seem to count for nothing. It seems that only the devil pays well. Hope grows dim and flickers. That is when you must stand tall in the great, profound faith that Right must prevail. You must strangle these demons of doubt and despair. You must master yourself to master the world around you. This is Conquest. This is what counts. Even a log can float with the current. It takes a person to fight steadily against a tide that would sweep their boat off course. When jealousy, petty schemes, meanness, and misunderstandings attack you, rise above them. Be like a lighthouse that lights up and beautifies the roaring, surging waves of a storm. The waves threaten the lighthouse, trying to undermine it and wash over it. This is Conquest. You may have a chance to win fame, wealth, success, or your heart's desire by sacrificing honor or principle. If the chance does not affect you long enough even to seem tempting, you have won. That too is Conquest. And Conquest is part of the royal road to Happiness.

Conscience, as the mentor, the guide and compass of every act, leads ever to Happiness. When the individual can stay alone with his conscience and get its approval, without using force or specious logic, then he begins to know what real Happiness is. But the individual must be careful that he is not appealing to a conscience perverted or deadened by the wrongdoing and subsequent deafness of its owner. The man who is honestly seeking to live his life in Consecration, Concentration and Conquest, living from day to day as best he can, by the light he has, may rely explicitly on his Conscience. He can shut his ears to "what the world says" and find in the approval of his own conscience the highest earthly tribune, – the voice of the Infinite communing with the Individual.

Conscience, as the mentor, guide, and compass for every act, always leads to Happiness. When people can be alone with their conscience and gain its approval without force or false reasoning, they begin to know real Happiness. But they must be careful not to rely on a conscience corrupted or dulled by their own wrongdoing and their refusal to listen to it. Those who sincerely seek to live in Consecration, Concentration, and Conquest may fully trust their conscience. They must live each day as best they can, guided by the understanding they have. They can shut their ears to "what the world says" and find in their conscience’s approval the highest authority on earth: the voice of the Infinite speaking with the Individual.

Unhappiness is the hunger to get; Happiness is the hunger to give. True happiness must ever have the tinge of sorrow outlived, the sense of pain softened by the mellowing years, the chastening of loss that in the wondrous mystery of time transmutes our suffering into love and sympathy with others.

Unhappiness is the hunger to get. Happiness is the hunger to give. True happiness must always have a trace of sorrow that has passed and pain softened by the years. It must also bear the mark of loss, which, through the wonderful mystery of time, transforms our suffering into love and sympathy for others.

If the individual should set out for a single day to give Happiness, to make life happier, brighter and sweeter, not for himself, but for others, he would find a wondrous revelation of what Happiness really is. The greatest of the world's heroes could not by any series of acts of heroism do as much real good as any individual living his whole life in seeking, from day to day, to make others happy.

If you spent just one day bringing happiness to others, you would discover something wonderful about what happiness really is. You would make life happier, brighter, and sweeter for them, not for yourself. Even the greatest heroes could not do as much real good through any number of heroic acts. Anyone who spends their whole life trying to make others happy, day after day, could do more.

Each day there should be fresh resolution, new strength, and renewed enthusiasm. "Just for Today" might be the daily motto of thousands of societies throughout the country, composed of members bound together to make the world better through constant simple acts of kindness, constant deeds of sweetness and love. And Happiness would come to them, in its highest and best form, not because they would seek to absorb it, but, – because they seek to radiate it.

Each day should bring fresh determination, new strength, and renewed enthusiasm. "Just for Today" could be the daily motto of thousands of societies across the country. Their members would be united in making the world better through constant simple acts of kindness, tenderness, and love. Happiness would come to them in its highest and best form. It would come not because they sought to absorb it, but because they sought to radiate it.