“When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -John Lennon

What if I were to tell you that your sole responsibility in your lifetime is to be happy? Your mission everyday would be to look at the positive aspect of every situation and do your best to instill this happiness and joy to those you come in contact with. What would your world look like if this were reality?

Often times when we are asked what is is that we really want in life, the immediate answer that comes to mind is “to be happy.” Sounds simple enough. What most of us don’t realize is that happiness is not a right or a desire or an unattainable ideal. Happiness is a responsibility; it is a state of mind. If nothing else, our sole purpose in this life is to be happy. I recently had the extreme honor and pleasure of meeting the Dalai Lama and hearing him speak. The message I took away from him is the importance of leading a happy, peaceful life. The message of happiness is widespread, and especially during these trying economic and social times, it’s incredibly important to integrate positivity into our daily lives.

When we are truly happy, the people around you know it. It shows up in your face, in your work, in your relationships, and therefore is an inspiration. Your deep-seeded happiness could just inspire the spark to light up happiness in someone else. So if you were thinking that wanting to be happy is selfish, knock that thought out of your brain because you have the power to change people’s lives!

How do you think the world would change if everyone incorporated a little bit of positivity and happiness into their lives?

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