We seek it here, we seek it there, we seek that elusive happiness everywhere. Everyone seems to be on the hunt to find happiness and there is no shortage of people proclaiming they have the secret to that happiness. But is ‘mindfulness’ finally the real key to happiness?

Humans are a funny bunch. If we’re always searching for happiness, does that mean that none of us are truly happy — after all, if we were happy, why would we need to always look for it?

From books to websites, podcasts and infomercials, those who claim to have found the secret to happiness are willing to share it with the rest of us…for a price, of course.

And, despite being so blessed with abundance, Americans seem to be the most unhappy people in the world.

It’s estimated that we Americans spend close to $600 million on self-help books every year.

Not to worry, because if we can’t find happiness from a book or seminar, we run to the Plastic Surgeon for a nip here or a tuck there — it’s estimated that we spend about $13.5 billion annually on some form of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures (I guess if you’re not happy, a new nose, butt lift or breast implants will surely do the trick).

We Americans are embracing every craze and fad in our pursuit of happiness: Yoga is the answer! Read a positive affirmation every morning…yes, that’s it…that’s the key! Go to this amazing personal-development seminar…they really show you how to be happy! Cut out sugar — that’s the real key…give up sugar and you’ll be happy for sure!

And now, the latest, sure-fire way to be happy, is through empowerment and mindfulness.

mind·ful·ness

a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

We have mindful learning, mindful parenting, mindful business dealings, mindful eating, mindful talking, mindful listening, mindful gardening, mindful shopping, mindful yoga…well, you get the idea.

Clearly, “mindfulness” is the long-coveted secret to true, forever, real, wonderful happiness — I hope you’re all mindful of that fact.

Or is it?

Perhaps Americans more than any other people around the world pursue happiness with such vigor because by nature, we’re a positive people. It’s known around the globe that Americans love a good success story and we have a “can do” attitude. We do and we must never lose that, because those are admirable and valuable traits.

Yet, despite being truly blessed with abundance, Americans must be quite unhappy people — why else would we chase the latest self-help craze with such a zealous fervor, hoping that “this will do it — surely, mindfulness will finally make me happy…yey me!”

Mindfulness, in theory, isn’t a bad thing. Originating in Asia and tied to meditation, it basically means to live in the present and to be more aware and live in the now. Ardent supporters of mindfulness claim it helps with depression, insomnia, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, empathy, compassion and in general, improves one’s physical and mental health.

Wow, mindfulness does all that?

John Kabat-Zinn, often credited with introducing ‘mindfulness’ to the west, defines the practice as:

“Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment, without judging it or immediately needing to change anything. As you learn to pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judging them as good or bad, you discover new degrees of freedom and learn how to better manage stress.”

Fine, it sounds okay on some levels. But what about the past and the future? Are we to ignore the past and never think about the future? Are we to always be mindful — mindful while we’re eating, mindful while we read, talk, listen, bathe? If we are forever living in the moment, being ‘mindful’ in everything we do, aren’t we just living life as a series of dis-connected actions?

What worries me is that mindfulness is now being applied and practiced via modern technology; there are now mindfulness apps and mindfulness networks that encourage group mindfulness — in other words, people gather together via the web to engage in some kind of ethereal, new age cosmic communing that I guess, will result in happiness?

Not to knock it, because mindfulness absolutely has some benefits, but it sounds all to Borg-like for my liking.

Happiness is not something you can find in a book, or on a website. Happiness is not something you can be given, or something you can buy. Real, true happiness, is something you discover within ourselves and to be frank, the key to happiness is usually right in front of us. Chasing happiness by embracing every fad and craze that comes along will only result in being let down and left feeling empty.

Yes, we can appreciate tips and reminders about happiness and positivity, but only we as unique, blessed souls can arrive at an authentic happiness by being open to who we really are, what makes us tick and what makes us light up.

Finding long-lasting happiness is actually easier than we’re being told. Endlessly searching for happiness is very draining and it’s not much wonder why people feel like they’ve tried everything, but happiness still escapes them.

In my humble opinion, here is some insight to bear in mind for being happy:

Happiness and feeling happy are not the same thing. Feeling happy is usually fleeting, but being truly happy is not. Those who have found enduring happiness can still experience moments of feeling unhappy.

Having a drive to improve our lives is a good thing — but there needs to be a focus, a goal and an end-game objective. Always looking for the next ‘big fix’ results in never stopping long enough to actually be happy.

“Things” and “stuff” will never make us truly happy — they’re temporary fixes.

Happiness won’t be found in a pill or at the end of a cosmetic surgeon’s scalpel.

Simplifying life is one sure way to attain a lasting happiness — less clutter, less stress, less mania — all go a long way towards helping us to find an inner-peace that sustains us.

Fundamentally, knowing who you are and who you wish to become as a human being is one of the most vital elements of happiness. When you can say “This is me — this is who I am and I’m content in my life. I like what I do, where I am and where I’m going…” you’ve basically found the secret. This requires quiet reflection — it does not require linking up with strangers via the web, because only you can reach into your soul and discover what seems to be lacking in your life.

“The best feeling in the world is realizing that you’re perfectly happy without the thing you thought you needed.” – Marxie