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    “Perhaps today will be the day when we experience happiness or wisdom. Don’t try to grab that moment and hold on to it with all your might. It’s not under your control how long it lasts. Enjoy it, recognize it, remember it. Having it for a moment is the same as having it forever.”

    Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic (Page 346)

      “You don’t have to believe there is a god directing the universe, you just need to stop believing that you’re that director. As soon as you can attune your spirit to that idea, the easier and happier your life will be, because you will have given up the most potent addiction of all: control.”

      Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic (Page 330)

        “All search for happiness is misery and leads to more misery. The only happiness worth the name is the natural happiness of conscious being.”

        Nisargadatta Maharaj, via Sunbeams (Page 138)

          “I’d say, ‘But I’m not happy.’ And [my grandmother] would say, ‘Where is it written that you’re supposed to be happy all the time?’ And I actually think it was the beginning of my spiritual practice—that life is difficult. Then 40 years later, I learned that the buddhists said the same thing, that life is inevitably challenging and how are we going to do it in a way that’s wise and doesn’t complicate it more than it is just by itself?”

          Sylvia Boorstein, via Becoming Wise (Page 218)

            “We now know that doing good to others, having a network of strong and supportive relationships, and having a sense that one’s life is worthwhile are the three greatest determinants of happiness.”

            Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, via Becoming Wise (Page 192)

              “Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”

              Joseph Campbell, The Hero’s Journey

                “If you want to be successful, surround yourself with people who are more successful than you are, but if you want to be happy, surround yourself with people who are less successful than you are.”

                Naval

                  “Simply to have all the necessities of life and three meals a day will not bring happiness. Happiness is hidden in the unnecessary and in those impractical things that bring delight to the inner person… When we lack proper time for the simple pleasures of life, for the enjoyment of eating, drinking, playing, creating, visiting friends, and watching children at play, then we have missed the purpose of life. Not on bread alone do we live but on all these human and heart-hungry luxuries.”

                  Ed Hays, Pray Always, via Sunbeams (Page 90)

                    “It is a great obstacle to happiness to expect too much.”

                    Bernard de Fontenelle, via Sunbeams (Page 76)

                      “Many quests begin from a sense of discontent or alienation. If you find yourself feeling discontented, pay attention to the reasons why. Add action to discontent: Find a way to do something about the uncertainty you feel.”

                      Chris Guillebeau, The Happiness of Pursuit (Page 38) (Read Matt’s Blog On This Quote)