by Angela S. Young

Created on: May 23, 2007   Last Updated: February 16, 2009

The US Constitution grants its citizens life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Why not life, liberty and happiness? We find it termed as the pursuit of happiness because no one can guarantee perpetual happiness on this earth. Even if all external things fell into place to give happiness, we would find some flaw within ourselves that would keep us from experiencing it on a continual basis. In the story of Adam and Eve, we see people placed in a perfect environment, but still unhappy because one thing was withheld from them.

The majority of us spend a lot of our lives in the pursuit of happiness, and yet it often remains illusive or illusory. We have it within our grasp as life takes a wild turn and pulls it back. Often that thing we thought would bring happiness was just an illusion any way. The secret to finding happiness doesn't come from seeking for things or ideals, the secret to happiness lies inside the heart of each pursuer and can only be found in a thorough search of the cavity we call a heart.

Often times, our search for happiness boils down to looking for love (and happiness) in all the wrong places. We live in a world of "if only", constantly seeking that next thing to bring us pleasure (often confused with happiness) then finding it was not really what we sought at all. Then we focus our attention on the next big thing and go through the process, repeatedly pursuing that illusive, ephemeral thing that will complete our happiness: wealth, pleasure, fame, etc.

Everyone knows of someone in this world that reeks of bitterness and anger to the point where they lose all the things that could bring some happiness in their life (e.g. close relationships). Instead of expressing happiness at the things they have, they focus on what they don't have and what other people have who have it better than they do. Or you will find a deep hurt that the person nurtures through unforgiveness, effectively wiping out the possibility of lingering happiness for him or herself and many of those around.

These folks often carry around a perpetual "victim" mentality driven by greed and discontent. Then we find those strapped into a cycle of selfishness and self-centeredness that keeps them grasping for what others have (or what they think others have) in an attempt to make the world "fair".

The point of this diatribe boils down to this: happiness comes from within. We find it through faith in God and contentment with our "unchangeables". We come with certain physical features,

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