“Happiness arrives from many directions.  If you have a notion that it comes only from one direction, you will miss all of these other opportunities because you want happiness to come only from the direction you want.  You say, ‘I would rather die than marry anyone but her.  I would rather die than lose my job, my reputation.  I cannot be happy if I don’t get that degree or that promotion or that house.’  You have put many conditions on your happiness.  And then, even if you do have all your conditions met, you still won’t be happy.  You will just keep creating new conditions for your happiness.  You will still want the higher degree, the better job and the more beautiful house.  Please remember that your notions of happiness may be very dangerous.  The Buddha said happiness can only be possible in the here and now. ” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, No Death, No Fear