“Create your own happiness, don’t find happiness.” ~Praveena Jogi

We often hear about the “pursuit of happiness,” as if it’s some elusive treasure to be found. But what if happiness isn’t something we find, but something we create? As I like to say, “Create your own happiness, don’t find happiness.”

I believe that true, lasting happiness comes from within. Whether you’re a man or a woman, you possess the power to shape your own emotional landscape. Spending your time searching for happiness outside yourself can be a time-consuming and often disappointing endeavor. You might find fleeting moments of joy in another person’s happiness, or conversely, be affected by their sadness. But these external sources are temporary and unstable.

The key to real happiness lies in your own actions, your own efforts, and your own integrity. When you work hard, stay true to your values, and cultivate self-trust, you build a foundation for happiness that no one can take away. This isn’t to say that external factors don’t play a role in our lives, but it emphasizes that our internal state is paramount.

Creating happiness also means finding joy in what we have, without disturbing the peace around us. I recently experienced this firsthand: I visited a place where peacocks roamed freely, living alongside humans. They were accustomed to the cars, the roads, and the people. And yet, one of these peacocks was so happy to dance with me in my 10-second selfie video! This is creating happiness with what I had—a beautiful creature freely expressing itself. The peacock fully opened its feather fan, came close, and performed a dance for the camera. It was clear he enjoyed being on camera!

Creating your own happiness can open doors you never imagined. It can lead to a profound sense of fulfillment and even, as some believe, a connection to something greater.

The ancient epic the Mahabharata illustrates this concept in a powerful way. Duryodhana, a complex character, is said to have experienced a moment of pure joy and satisfaction on the battlefield, even as he faced death. This wasn’t a simple, superficial expression. It was a deep acceptance of his choices and their consequences.

Now, you might ask, “Duryodhana was not a virtuous person, so how could he go to heaven?” While the epic describes his eventual fate as including a period in hell, it also acknowledges the power of that final, genuine smile. His full-hearted happiness, in that moment, had a transformative power.

This highlights the incredible power of a smile and of happiness, especially the kind you create yourself. When you take ownership of your emotional well-being and actively cultivate joy, incredible things can happen.