“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

I heard this quote fairly recently from a young woman who was terminal from a rare cancer.

For some reason, it really hit me.

So, why do we allow external events and difficult times to determine our happiness?

Happiness should be – and is – a state of mind. We should always remember that, particularly during the most difficult of times.

We cannot look to our spouses, our families, or even our dear friends to help us with that happiness. It must come from inside.

If our happiness is not internal, then there is no amount of money, personal success, professional success, or anything else that will ever quench that thirst.

Find that one thing and focus in on it.

Make that be your happiness north star and never stop walking in that direction.

-J.D.