[July 21, 2025] Happiness is fleeting and unpredictable. If you want happiness, drink alcohol and abuse drugs (that’s a bit of sarcasm). The lesson is don’t pursue happiness.
Drug use works, at least in the short term, and it’s cheap and instantaneous. Of course, alcohol and many drugs destroy the lives of perhaps five to ten percent of our society and severely handicap those it does not kill.
“You don’t become happy by pursuing happiness. You become happy by living a life that means something.” — Harold S. Kushner
Don’t pursue happiness. Pursue who you could be because you are not who you could be, and you know it. We lack the proper discipline; we procrastinate; we are complacent; we have bad habits and odd tastes; we are self-righteous; we do things that make no sense. We know perfectly well that we are not who we could be.
Do those things that are good and will benefit others.
Do this by developing your character as much as possible. And maybe, just maybe, if you are lucky, happiness will descend upon you on occasion. You can be grateful for that brief happiness. That is the best that we’ve got.
Improve your character. Be the adult in the room. Adopt discipline; stop doing those things you know you should not be doing, do those things you know you should do and stop chasing happiness.
We don’t judge a person by the size of their house, the clothes they wear, or the music they listen to, but by whether that person has character.
Regardless of your circumstances, the first thing you can do is learn to deal with those things you can fix. After that, the world is open. That is one measure of character.
Don’t pursue happiness because it is only an illusionary path that will disappoint.
Aim high for a noble goal because you will never live a good life without doing so.
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I know plenty of people who have one goal in life and that is to be HAPPY. They are miserable. I think they’re miserable because they think being happy is being ‘ha ha ha’ wonderful and that is not what makes us ‘happy.’ Ithink the word is misused but the basics are feeling good. Our feelings dont rate however. Get over being happy and try to be satisfied with those good things you do in life. Get a copy of “55 Rules for a Good Life” that is writtne by Gen. Doug Satterfield and you will see what those things are that make you a good person with a good llife. He talks about the false promise of happiness in that same book. And, oh, get extra copies to hand out to your family members and freinds.
Right! Happiness is not a life goal but an outcome of properly achieving one’s life goals.
Sir, great article, and thankyou!!!!
An aim at the clouds of happiness to aim at nothing of substance. Happiness comes and enjoy it while its there but nebver have it as a goal. If you do, you will be disappointed. Like so many political leftists today who have a goal of happiness and nervona (sp?) under Marxism, they are mentally ill for never achieving their desires.
Sir, it’s always a good day to wake up to your latest post. ✅
“Improve your character. Be the adult in the room. Adopt discipline; stop doing those things you know you should not be doing, do those things you know you should do and stop chasing happiness.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield. Well said, sir. This is the main theme here and I know you’ve written often about this very topic and that it is also Dr. Jordan Peterson’s these as well as adopting responsibility for your life. This is not an easy lesson. It also requires knowledge of what an adult means. And too many youth are never taught those harsh lessons of life. Thus, wisdom is lacking despite being “educated.” Not really educated.
Thanks Yusuf for your loyalty also to my humble website.
Yes sir, a classic.
❤️ Love this article. ❤️
Great quote: “You don’t become happy by pursuing happiness. You become happy by living a life that means something.” — Harold S. Kushner
Having “happiness” as an aim in your life is not anything but an allusion. I know that is the goal of many young Gen. Z’ers. They are the most unhappy people I know. Plenty of mental illnesses in them, alone, often fat, out of shape physically, highly educated in a formal school system but have zero common sense or wisdom, reject our system of government, and would rather protest than pursue a family. And, of course, they’re all Leftists politically.
“Political Leftism” being the biggest predictor of mental instability and unhappiness. 😡
Don’t tell them that because they’re “fighting fascism.” Naturally, they have no idea what fascism is or how it works. Don’t believe me? Ask any of those crazies to tell you what fascism is. Watch their heads explode. 🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️
Judy, you made me nearly spit my morning coffee out my nose. That’s the truth. 🎯 we all know those young, obese, white, liberal, nasty, crazy women who act as if they are the moral police. Makes you want to throw them out of your house and say good riddance but that is not the answer. Showing them the path to God is the answer. But beware, be gentle in this approach because these young women are dead set against religion. They’ve been taught that believing in God is what the world’s problems are caused by. Thanks Gen. Doug Satterfield for you and thank you for your service. 🫡
…..and to read his books too. Like “55 Rules for a Good Life” and “Our Longest Year in Iraq”.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
Well said, Winston.