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If we can accept as true that life circumstances are not the keys to happiness, we'll be greatly empowered to pursue happiness for ourselves.
Sonja Lyubomirsky
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Happiness depends on our mindset rather than external circumstances.

This quote emphasizes the idea that happiness is not determined by the external situations we find ourselves in, but rather by our internal acceptance and actions. By recognizing that our happiness is within our control, we empower ourselves to actively seek joy and fulfillment regardless of life’s challenges.

Themes

HappinessMindsetEmpowermentControlLife

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about personal growth and happiness.

More from Sonja Lyubomirsky

It is equally important to investigate wellness as it is to study misery.
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Happiness is not out there for us to find. The reason that it's not out there is that it's inside us.
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People prone to joyful anticipation, skilled at obtaining pleasure from looking forward and imagining future happy events, are especially likely to be optimistic and to experience intense emotions.
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The combination of rumination and negative mood is toxic. Research shows that people who ruminate while sad or distraught are likely to feel besieged, powerless, self-critical, pessimistic, and generally negatively biased.
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Thus the key to happiness lies not in changing our genetic makeup (which is impossible) and not in changing our circumstances (i.e., seeking wealth or attractiveness or better colleagues, which is usually impractical), but in our daily intentional activities.
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I prefer to think of the creation or construction of happiness, because research shows that it's in our power to fashion it for ourselves.
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