Happiness is a Candle

Happiness is the essence of what we seek. Everything we do is to try and maximize it. Often we fail not because our desire is lacking, but we don’t really know what true happiness is. We confuse it with other emotions like excitement or comfort or pleasure. We may define it by the absence of negative emotions like fear or anxiety. We may relate it to external circumstance rather than the true happiness that comes from within.

Think of happiness as a candle, an inner flame that burns within all of us. We need to nurture this fire, shelter it from the winds of circumstance and misfortune that are surely to blow on us from time to time. We need to clean the glass around it so it shines more brightly. We need to mine the inner fuel within our self to keep it burning bright and steady.

Many look to external sources of fuel which burn quick and fast, but don’t really improve the quality of the light in the long run. Throwing gasoline on a fire will make it burn hot and bright for a short while, but after it is gone we are right back to where we started. In fact it may seem like it is not as bright as before. Our nature is to seek more fuel. We become addicted to how brightly we can momentarily get it to burn. It is never enough for some of us.

People are drawn to others with inner happiness like moths to a flame.

Happiness comes from the fuel within us. Realize this and you will become more resistant to external circumstances. Learn to nurture your happiness and no one can take it from you.

Photos: Pixabay