Don't worry, be happy.  

Giving back and doing for others is what works for me. It takes the focus off of my situation and makes me concentrate on someone else's needs. This make my little problems seem micro-mini and the smiles that come back are huge payment.

"......if this is true...."

The problem is, it is not true.

The embryo of happiness is GRATEFULNESS.

Without GRATEFULNESS'S you are chasing vapors you can never capture.

Happiness comes from choosing thoughts that feel good to you. When you consistently do that, you are connected to who-you-really-are, and that is very powerful.  When any of us allow ourselves to be who-we-really-are, we experience clarity, we become insightful, we are creative, we are joyful, we become inspired to actions that not only benefit ourselves, but our communities, and sometimes even all of mankind.

Because all the great inventions, all the cures, all the victories, all the best things on this planet have come from people who were connected to who-they-really-are.

We see it all the time in sports. Michael Jordan comes to mind. When he was 'in the zone' as we call it, he was unstoppable, undefeatable! He was poetry in motion, just beautiful to watch him play the game.  Every athlete will tell you the same thing: when they are 'in the zone', it is effortless.

We think being 'in the zone' as some infrequent thing, and unfortunately, it usually is.  But it is our nature to be 'in the zone'. It is our nature to thrive. It is our nature to be consistently joyful.

And so when we are not happy, not joyful, not thriving, the reason is simple: we are looking at something other than what we want. We are thinking about the lack of what we want. We are, in that moment, way outside of 'the zone', and we know that we are out of the zone by the way we feel, which is typically like crap.

Want to be happy? Look around you for the best things you can find. Focus on all that is going right in your life. Count your blessings. Feel appreciation for yourself, for your family, for your friends and coworkers. 

Make the best of things, and you will find yourself frequently 'in the zone'.

And that's where the magic is. That's when doors open.  When people appear who can assist you with your goals. It's when the great ideas begin to wash over you. Opportunities show up that you never could have imagined.

Want to be happy? Find happiness in your thoughts! And then watch what happens.  

Good question.

By being more happy.

John nailed this one!

I have a feeling you are overloading on success seminars

Living a life full of purpose is not that difficult, just volunteer to help someone else. I serve as Advocacy Chair for our local board of Realtors and as newspaper editor for our community newspaper, Terre du Lac Lifestyle.  In addition to serving as family cheerleader! Yes, I am the one to call when you need a laugh or a recipe for making lemonade out of life's challenges. My life is full and so are my days.

By inviting others to join the quest and acheive it Michael Thornton. Happiness is so much more fulfilling when it's shared.

Annette Lawrence was right on target with this, in my opinion.... best answer...

I like the way this question is worded.   I would need to divert  more time and attention to me, vs spending it working for clients.   I am pretty purposeful now with my PLLC, need to work on it on the personal side.

Hi Michael, I agree with the opening statement to your question. I would like to answer your question with the word community. I believe that when one opens ones self to more than ones "personal" purpose, be it themselves or their family and actually does something "purposeful" that an entire or part of a community will benefit from then the fulfillment factor becomes even greater and more fulfilling.