Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Happiness doesn’t depend on what we have, but it does depend on how we feel toward what we have.  We can be happy with little and miserable with much.

William Dempster Hoard

Back to happiness being an inside job and not dependent upon outside “stuff” with this inspirational quote.

This time we are talking about the stuff we have.  Some people, no matter how much they have, are miserable.  In fact, it’s a Hollywood cliche that rich people with lots of stuff are unhappy.  I think that’s one of those cliches that is not necessarily true but the media, movies and what not, would have us believe is true.

Since the people who make those movies, producers, actors, etc., want to make lots of money, it’s funny that is a stereotype they push.  Maybe it’s pushed because the vast majority of people paying to see movies aren’t rich and such a story line makes them feel better to watch a movie where someone who has more than the movie goers is unhappy and gets a “comeuppance”.  Rather than build up, this tears down.

But that just goes back to letting things outside us determine our happiness.  If I am envious, how can I be happy?

It goes back to having an attitude of gratitude and giving thanks for all we have.  That is how I should feel toward the stuff I have whether it is a little or a lot.  I think it also goes to not being envious of what others have but instead holding that as a picture of something that is achievable, all the while knowing that only I control my own happiness.

Tags: stuff