Finding Happiness Today

by T.W. Winslow

I'll be happy as soon as I get that promotion at work. Once I get married, I know I'll be happy. If I could only get out of debt, then I'd be happy. If my husband would only pay more attention to me, I know I'd be happy. 

Do these things sound familiar? Are you putting off your happiness waiting for that certain something which is going to change your life? Are you depending on someone else for your happiness? If so, you may be in for a long wait.

So often we buy into the fallacy that something or someone is going to come along and make us happy - a new job, more money, a better relationship, etc. And until that happens, we resign to being unhappy and unfulfilled. The fact of the matter is, if we aren't happy now, most probably, we never will be no matter what may come our way down the line. 

Sure, we all want better things for ourselves. This is perfectly normal, and we should never stop trying to improve our lives and our relationships. However, we can't postpone our happiness waiting for these changes to be realized. We must find happiness now. 

A big part of this is not depending upon others, our current circumstance, or material possessions to make us happy. We must take responsibility for our own happiness, and find it in our very existence and in how we live our lives. Happiness is nothing more than attitude and fulfillment. The old saying, "Either our glass is half full or half empty," is very true indeed. How we perceive our lives, who we are, and what we make of our current situations, has everything to do with our ultimate happiness and personal fulfillment.

If we continually look down to road for our happiness, we'll never find it, as with our every step forward, the horizon moves one step further away. Consequently, happiness and fulfillment may forever allude us. If our eyes are always fixed on the horizon, we'll most certainly miss what's right at our feet.

The simple fact is, happiness and fulfillment are within our grasp - right here, right now. Life is a journey, and we make it what it is - good or bad. For happiness and fulfillment doesn't come at the end of the journey, but rather, is found in the journey itself. 

Passing Thoughts is a syndicated weekly column written by T.W. Winslow - read by millions around the world each week. To get the new Passing Thoughts column sent to you free each week via email, subscribe at: http://www.taddgroup.com For reprint info, contact the author at: taddgroup@aol.com