The Secret of Happiness

it always seems I am worrying about something if its not Israel its survival of the jewish people so I would like some help!!!!

everybdy want happy, all are have happy..but some are dnt know happy like me....

My husband suffers from lung cancer. We continues 10 chemology treatment and radiation. from March we quit modern medicine, only monthly check up. People say who overcome cancer that the heart is important to heal . Healing ability we all have. My husband is shorttempered. I feel so lonely. I am not Israerli, I am a Japanese woman.

as I will. To comfort you, and to get out of a bad mental state, try looking at nature, even from a hospital window-maybe there are birds, or little weed flowers, or frost. Try to enjoy these and notice them, for a little vacation from your worries, and as a reminder that there still is a whole beautiful world-and its Creator-out there for you. Hope this helps you as it did me.

So very well written. Happiness is a state of mind. - Especially when we see people with " less " or nothing, in real poverty, sickness, missing limbs, or who apparently have lost " everything " so they believe. Many of us have become slaves to our " cherished' possessions, which can be meaningless at the end. I talked with Holocaust Survivors in 1945 - how much or little they had left - but their skins, bones, their minds - and were grateful to escape alive. Shalom

this is really helpful if we can see it positively n try to use it !

I fully appreciate what author has to say. Hapiness is a state of mind, however this state of mind is not long lasting. There are spells of Hapiness and unhapiness based on factors outside you and influencing you. Fact remains, we are commercial animals and it is succes in desires, objectives, goals etc that gives you happiness, that is why a vast majority (Practicaly every one) is in constant search of a permanent state of happiness and that is what the life is all about.

Happiness is an ability to be fostered since birth

This article sounds very positive and correct. However, I am not sure if this is practical enough. For instance, consider being honest. It is good to be honest, however, I will have some exceptions when implementing honesty in my life. I would prefer to be more diplomatic than to be blunt/ honest and hurt someone's feeling. Similarly in this context, I think being happy by counting our blessings is a good way of looking at life. However, I like to believe in the idealogy wherein you do not side line your dissatisfaction(unhappiness). Infact, you could analyze the reason behind your dissatisfaction and probabaly work on it. So that would mean dealing your unhapiness.This could actually help you grow or progress in life rather than diverting your attention away from the current problem. For problems that don't have a solution, the outlook mentioned might suit better. But then again, "With possitive effort and patience, impossible is nothing." I'd like to clarify that I don't intend to disregard or hurt anyone's belief in God and His blessings. But in the same time reinforce the thought "God helps those who help themselves" and working on your unhappiness is only a way to help yourself :-)

I think we live in a world that has such an aim to be happy, that half of the people we know are walking around depressed or on antidepressants saying they are just fine. I agree that Happiness is a way of traveling in life, but there are those times when one is not happy, and he/she should acknowledge it and be okay with him/herself that he/she feels that way. Staying in integrity, being honest, not faking it, are at least as important for someone's psyche and emotional well being than pretending one is happy.

oh dear, such a nice words.. but it is just theory..try to put in to practice and you will see.. yes we all can imagine things that we have and have to be grateful for but the truth is that wories we are always bigger than someone's else.. can you be happy holding your dear book and have no food? can people dying in hunger be happy with their eyes, legs, smell etc.? the happyness described here ignores all those poeple who live in the world of poverty, teror, war.. where is the happyness when you see your childrean having nothing to eat? we are selfish here in western countries and yes we can use this method if we have no wories like that... what about hatred, racism, explotation, bullying.....happyness is not a state of mind.. happyness means diferent things for different people and for somebody it may mean having bread and for somebody the world would improve if hatred around the world would stop spreading so fast... look around.. all of you live in your own little worlds ignoring the rest.. i want to scream and make the world wake up and look beyond this sentimental and useless definition of happyness when brothers killing brothers (christians, jews and muslims).. happyness should mean doing everything to make world better and not just your own.. open your eyes and stand in front of fear, see not only colours of the sky and the sun but the colours of the world we live in today..and stop being ignorant about it..

Work on your emunah - the fundamental belief that Hashem runs the world and everything He does is for our ultimate good eventhough it may not seem so at the time or we may never understand it. Work at it, practice it, ask Hashem everyday to help with your Emunah. The energy of the happiness that you can achieve within yourself by working on your own Emunah and gratitude will reverberate througout the world. Best of luck!

this is the first time I try to write in a forum I read the autors notes as well as yours and I wanted to say that you are right as well as you are wrong my dear "you" the autor from my personal point of view, never says nothing about dont help and see the real world, in fact he emphasis the point that if you achieve happiness in life, you can express and help better those around you, people death evry day, people kill every day for the most little of reasons, people suffer and are pain for too many reasons, and I think that if you suffer and are unhappy for that, then you will never be happy at all, in the other hand if despite of all of those horrible things around us you try to be happy with what you have and if everybody tries to be happy then I asure you everybody would try to help someone else in his every day actions. Again remarking that this is my personal point of view, I do think that happiness is a state of mind, and those who achieve it help others to be happy and if every body is happy then the better world you are talking about could be possible, but if every body is unhappy then again and again this world will go worst every day. you cant change the world my friend, so at least try to add your little grain of sand in this world and make happy those around you, those you do can help, when you can do that and we other people follow you then we can have a better world. , I also feel sad with those things you say, even I some times say where is that benevolent God every body talks about when I see so much sorrow in the world, but this is not his fault is our fault, so lets try to learn what the autor says, lets try to be happy with those little things we usually dont see and then there would not be the necessity to kill for money or to dont help others because we can lose the little we have or to make miserable those around us because of our personal roblems, lets help each other being happy !!! :-) =

This article has been an epiphany for me. Its simple truth that we all know but forget so easily. I can only be honest when I say that this great advice will most likely be lost on me soon after I leave this page, but I can only pray that i'll apply what it takes to remember such simplicity--the type of simplistic thinking which can make the difference of living the rest of my life or finishing the time I have left in a coma only to wake up and realize what I missed when its too late. Its time to realize the greatness of what really matters. The little things

So, I'm in the middle of computer class while reading this article, & can I just say it really touched me. I've never came to appreciate the little things in life until reading this, it changed a part of me. I'm happy for everything I've accomplished, for even being here today. & thanking God every second that passes by, for giving me life, sight, & all of the above, because I now realize not everyone is blessed how I am, & for what I have, I am grateful. (: Godd bless everyone.

Iv'e just finish reading this with my mother and we spent the hour discussing what makes us happy. i enjoyed the article a lot and the time spent with my mom.

If you want to know how to be happy, look in Pirkei Avos. It's THAT simple!!!

i miss rabbi weinberg. even when hes not here we still feel his happiness so much. thank you Rav.

Being KIND to people is the greatest LIFE LESSON on earth in this School of Life before 'graduation': Death.

If you have a positive atitude you will be happy.

I was feeling very blue lately and frustrated.......I was finding fault in everything. I was boring myself!!! I find such joy in certain parts of my life and after reading ur article I now find joy in a lot more. Its amazing thank you.

Gr8 article

Thanks for sharing us. now i have learnt to be happy!!

Every year I try and find something new to add to my list of To Do's for the New Year. I love the idea of making a list of your blessings for an hour. Then adding one new one every day. I have a blessing jar but this exericse will be fun too.

it is eextreem of philosophy but essense is also in the article.so just try it afterall what goes to try.this gives us the way of best lokking and prospective.

greatly writtwn

No one happy in this world . why? even who has enuogh many and who has all he needs. the only comes happines from God.

Now I can start being happy

I'm not Jewish, but I must say this is definitely the best way to achieve happiness. Thank you so much.

U know monitoring your feelings and thoughts can be difficult when u have live life everyday. I was introduced to the secret of life it really open my mind to what I take for granted. thinking positive will only bring you positive people and circumstances into ones life visa versa for thinking negative.

Rabbi, I loved your article, thank you.

wow....what an inspiring voice this provides...it will really help unhappy ones...nice..one

Thank you for this very inspiring article. . . it made me realize of the small things that I have but I never appreciated it in my whole life. . . God Bless! . . .

thank you very much i am very inspired as i read all the benefits.

Ur article was truely a blessing to read. I felt every word you had said. It makes you realise that we take so many things for granted. I appreciate reading your article.

Dont let the good just pass by. every breath, every step, every word, every morning are all blessings from G-D. Stop a moment, realize the special gifts you have!

This Article is too near to reality, most of us dont realize that we have enoughf to be happy, we can ask people who got sight after their surgery and how happy they are to see world again. Thanks author for the article, please post some more

My son told me about this article today on happiness. I agree with it whole heartedly. I'm a single woman who is using JWed to find a special mate. But strugglling with the process. How do I work with patience.? Eleen S.

very inspiring!!!hope many people wil inspyr ,too.

Great article, really enjoyed reading it.

only when we become really absorbed in something are we truly happy. when we lose our curiosity we lose our happiness too. actually it is all about cherishing small pleasures.

I am afraid that if i list the good things I have and enjoy them then it will be difficult for me to recover from their loss- what if i become blind? what if my kids are sick etc etc i even worry for the grandchildren i do not have yet

When I found myself a single parent of three small children and a quarter to my name all I had to do was look at those healthy children playing and know how very blessed I was. What brought me happiness is the life in front of me not the material things that we think we need. In times of stress, just have hope, faith and throw a little humor in the middle. After all you probably won't remember what you were stressed out about in a month or year anyway. Debbie

thank you!! you change the rest of my life..

and so glad I did. I am undergoing therapy for anxiety and depression. I feel like I never get answers to why do I feel like this and then I found this page - not even sure how - and things are a lot clearer. Thank you

sometimes searching for answers is hard and it has the chance to become complicated ,but this one page found by accident gave me sight of whts important thankyou

to be happy, one must consiously make an effort to be so. spend ones time, money and energy doing things they enjoy.

Everything in the article is positive and quite helpful, I''m sure. However, many people who are unhappy are clinically depressed and all the great advice and insights are not going to help a chemical imbalance causing a clinical depression. There have been many people successfully treated with medication, after which the advice given is effective. However, for the people who have benefited from the power of positive thinking and appreciating their blessings - God bless them!

Firstly, the "On the Ledge" short story was awesome :) I hope I don't have to use it on anyone one day, but if I do, then I will surely be grateful to have been given the advice. Secondly, I consider myself a happiness seeker. I always try and be happy, no matter what the situation. In death, I remember all the good times I had with that person, not the fact they are now gone. When my friend is being an irritable prick for being so negative, I laugh and take a deep breath and think about why he is my friend and the things we have done together. Then I teach him that what is the point in being negative when you can be happy. Instead of carrying on about the negative aspects of a situation, why not find a solution and move on to more happier things like a girlfriend, or a boyfriend or your cat sprawled out on the floor wanting a tummy rub. I know I wont always be happy, but I know if I learn to appreciate everything I have in my life and for every breath I take, then I will be happy most of the time :) For all of you seeking happiness keep trying. It will come. It just takes a right state of mind and willpower. Remember to stay positive, and do the things you enjoy doing with the people you love. God bless.

People spend a lifetime Searching for happiness, looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, Religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is that the only place they ever needed to search was within themselves. -Ramona L. Anderson.

I'd also say that DVDs such as "The Secret" (2006) also helps. The Laws of Attraction and self-actualization by Abraham Maslow are also key to happiness. Adopting an attitude of gratitude, positive visualization, and believing in positive outcomes helps. Putting in the work in the realms of both professional and social areas of one's life allows one to become more fulfilled. An inner peace and sense of empowerment is achieved through being proactive.

Being happy is a tough task. Being a mother and a wife and a daughter who have to play som many roles in life, we have to make sure that our pain and sufferings do not affect others. There is no point talking back and proving that we are right, or even not. i believe being happy is to submit our actions and will together to the other persons visions. I believe in todays world especially when we are having financial crisis, where the whole world suffers. I believe in this financial crisis we are called to work with each other, help each other and share our projects and vision in making this community and world a happier and peaceful earth to live on. Today's materialistic world coincides with the spiritual world. How are we going to connect this happiness.

Thanks for posting your Wisdom. I realised how lazy i am to cherish the things i am having. I will change from now and will daily thanks the blessings of god over me. Thanks once again for this post god bless you. Bharat

if happiness doesnt happen....and it ia truly a state-of-mind....how does one happen to go from unhappy to happy???????? Are they just born happy?

Hi, I have been on antidepressants for over 10 years.There are days when I am happy and then there are days when the depression takes over and I start going down into the pit. This is the hardest time as you want to wallow like an elephant in the mud even though you are scared of the consequences. It is at these times Icome to Aish.com and the pit soon disappears and a smile spreads on my face. I then can turn to my family happy. I thank Hashem that as a noachide I have a place to turn that enriches my life and in turn others. Shalom.

Everything stated here is true. But the actual KEY, is to "Believe". If you can convince your mind that anything will happen, it will. Just think of EVERY situation before it happens, and think of a positive way for it to end for everyone involved. Then make sure you go through the steps to get to that goal of happiness. If you believe it will happen, and you're confident. It will happen. Many people don't KNOW that happiness is just a thought away. Imagine if you can teach everyone to merely THINK different. Just be positive and see that you'll gain positive actions and thoughts. You have the negative people that don't WANT to believe it. Like the Aunt example, they focus on what they don't have and complain about it. When realisticly everyone has a lot more than they know. A way you can spread that without trying to preach, is just be positive no matter what. If some one is being negative towards you, it's hard for them to fight fire with water. You can just go along with (for example) and arguement, and they can yell, fuss, complain, etc. But if you just stick with what's right in the situation, stay calm, and keep a smile on your face, they have no choice but to respond similarly. If they are yelling and being negative, then they are probably wrong about the situation, and getting defensive about it. If you can educate (and technically persuade) some one to believe that positive thinking is the key to happiness, then you can make their life better. It's a tough task, but if you want it to happen, it will come as easy as you want it.

Thanks for this cool post. :)

Thank you : )

Thanks for this article, it really does help to put things into perspective. I often think of the people in the world who have less than i do, or who are dying of starvation, illness etc and this helps me to be grateful for what i have.

It is hard when other people are unhappy and they aren't considerate to the people around them like me. Difficult to maintain happlines around so many unhappy people,I cannot quit my job only because people there are bitter about life. As I said it is hard to focus of what it is important.

Here I am again..........thanking you for these wonderful comments and suggestions. I have to share something with you, as I can relate to what you are saying here. I think I am safe in saying that almost every day I THANK God for all His blessings to me - for eyesight (yes - but I didn't know that one eyeball was worth $5 million (WOW)- I also thank Him for my hearing (which is fading somewhat, but nevertheless I still thank Him that I can hear). For my limbs, my fingers, my legs, my toes, for being able to walk (with my dog Rosie every day) and for being able to smell the roses. What I try to do each time I enter a supermarket, when I see all the beautiful coloured fruit and vegetables, I lay my hands on them and thank God for being so good to me - allowing me to live in this wonderful country called Canada. We are such a BLESSED nation and it saddens me so much when I think of those who I rub shoulders with, they take all of these things for granted,and when we talk about the goodness of God, they don't want to hear or be bothered. I thank Him daily and I thank Him for allowing me to find this websit.
Sincerely, Dorothy Spridgeon in Toronto

Good work, these words made me feel better! Thank you!

People search all over for the city of happiness when happiness is in fact the state of mind. The words simcha(joy) & machshova (thought) consist of the same letters in Hebrew lettering because simcha depends on the machshova. Positive thoughts & gratitude for what we do have, not what we don't have or what the neighbor has, cause simcha.

Thank you. These are just the thoughts I need to re-direct my energies and make a more positive life. It has made me feel better already.

My Moto "Live Long", Live Strong, live happy. Enjoy life instead of trying to control it.

It's true! Thanks and God bless.

Thank you. I have shared with my family and we are all determined to count our many blessings.

Feeling bit fed up and typing in secret of happiness and this came up. Feel better and it's all true. Thanks.

I was feeling down when I happened upon this article. I feel so much better. Thank you.

I put in Secret of Happiness in Google and you were #1. It was justified. Congratulations!

Same comments as Marriam.I am grateful I found and decided to read this article.

I was so depressed and supressed with the misconception of having things missing in my life, but by reading your article has given me motivation and realization that there are things worth being thankful to...and i like to take this opportunity to thank you !!!

It is good to ponder often on the thoughts expressed in this worthwhile article by Rabbi Weinberg, I am grateful to have read it. Along these lines,a saying that comes to mind and has helped me also lately is "gratitude is riches, complaint is poverty". Blessings to all.

this article is definetely worth a reading.....My happiest moment of the day was when I read it.Hope to stay happy from now on..May God bless You for writing this...

I Think I heard in the name of R'Pam, Z'tl : "people are looking for the city of happiness but it's all in the state
of mind"

Very much happiness. I used to think a lot of happiness will make you a happy person. But seeing a lot of unhappy(people sufering) people, does not allow me to be the happiest person.

very inspiring!

I thank Rabbi Noah Weinberg and Aish Torah for helping me in many ways to handle challenges. I am thankful to G-d that has provided the world with blessings such as your writings. I own The 48 ways to wisdom by Rabbi Noah Weinberg and I when I share his teachings with friends and family they are always thankful.Thank you.

Good page, encouraging stories. I feel for whatever nature has endowed man with, there's always a need for appreciation. There is then the fears of depreciation if one fails to appreciate ones' value. This is thus a universal principle for happiness!!!

At the beginning of the summer I was listing 5 things each day that I was grateful for in my life. I was less miserable and realized what a great life I have. Since I have stopped doing it, I am more aware of all the things that are "wrong" in my life. Thank you for this gentle reminder to daily remember what blessings G-d has given me.

This is certainly helpful, but I can't help but wonder if you're over-emphasising the importance of happiness. At many times in our life, duty takes precedence over happiness. Certainly the ideas presented here are good in general, but like all things, there is a season for every emotion in the wide range of human feeling we've been blessed with.

This was the most inspirational thing ive ever read...
it really made me relize how materialistic I am I base all my happyness on getting new things and new clothes n stuff like that...
Its so stupid im one of the luckyest people in the world I have a home the best family,the best freinds,and no conditions or problems with me!!!!..
I wallow in so much sadness i forget how really hapy I should be..I spose its just the thing these days everyone is sad..but why..??..Happyness is like the dominoes effect one persons got that sprak it'll rub off!!!!

thanx for the advice. i will let you know if it works 4 me

I reside in Perth Western Australia. I was browsing and found this site quite by accident. Thank you,this is a lovely page and has given me a lot to think about.

Dear Rabbi, "The secret of happiness is appreciation" could have come from my own lips as indeed, though it took me 70 years (mostly unhappy ones)I found that secret.This began when I made a list of all I had and all I wanted, and I saw clearly I had SO much. Once well to do, I had become poor,but never happier as I came to appreciate EVERYTHING. G-d brought me to this realization.

happiness depends on each owns mind

To Anonymous (whose one line summary was "Don't be Condescending"),

With all respect, I believe you took the essence of the article out of context. If you will re-read it with that in mind, I believe you'll undestand the very spirit in which the advice was given.

Years ago I heard a cassette tape of this; I believe it is # 27 of the "48 Ways." I liked it so much that I bought & listened to the whole set of the "Ways." This is still one of the greatest pieces of wisdom I have ever heard in my life, and I'm eternally grateful to Rabbi Weinberg for teaching it and Aish for diseminating it. I lost my beloved husband when the youngest of our eight children was only three years old, and I surely needed this wisdom (as well as G-d's help) to have the will and strength to go on.

If a person is miserable (and perhaps with cause) and you tell them to "cheer up and think of five positive things" that person now knows that you don't understand, you don't want to hear it and they cannot come to you for anything. I think that just listening if a person is in pain and reflecting that you are there for him/her is the most important thing you can do to help them cope. How dare you say think of five positive things? Are you in their shoes? Do you know how you would cope? We have tears for a reason. Getting through the grief can help bring about acceptance.

since I lost my beloved husband last year i have been asked many times how I am able to be so "strong". I dont think I am stronger than anyone else. I just try very hard to thank G_d for all the blessings in my life, for 35 years of love, friendship, children, and so many other things.
Moses walked past the burning bush the first time, and did not see it. Each of us needs to slow down and look at the miracles around us. I had 35 years of miracles, and I am thankful for every one of them before he passed away, and all the ones I see every day.

My Mom moved recently to Miami..., well, she really didn't moved, she emigrated. That means that she had to leave all her former life behind, so she was feeling very depressed. Many things written in this article are the things I told her recently to help her. I am translating it into Spanish to send it to her. (Please, forgive my English..., it is still "under construction".) :)

Dear Rabbi Weinberg,
Just a line to say that I realy enjoyed your essay "The seacret of Happyness." For the past six months we have had our house on the market and the stress has been rather heavy. We got through without too many stressy outbursts but it was rather tough.
I read your essay today and want to say "Thanks Mate". I realy laughed at the line, "Eybrows and socks."

Thank you again,

Dai Jones Australia

This is exactly what I use to do every morning, for the last 2 years.
Before, I always wayted to get happiness from the others until I decided to practice by myself and use my own ability for happiness, cause I know I was born for it, and above all, I deserve it.

"Who is rich? The one who appreciates what he has." (Talmud - Pirkei Avot 4:1)

Dear Rabbi Weinberg,

Thank you so much for reminding us to acknowledge our blessings each day. Indeed, God is waiting for us to be happy, glad and grateful. And your occasions and humour make our gratefulness a delightful experience for us, for our kids, and our families. Thank you. God bless you and Shalom!

Great article! very smart and well thought out.

Thank you I will start using this with my preschool class. What a wonderful way to start a day. Katy

I have always gained a lot of spiritual insights from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. he can feel the pulse of people who need to be reminded daily of God's blessing and love for each of us.

Got this and it came at a time when i was very low and it helped me to see alot of things.Thank you

Thank you, I appreciate your wisdom.

i appreciate coz some problem in life they are not worthy living, it's better wisdom than riches,you are great rabbi!

I greatly appreciate articles like this it keeps me going. These articles inspire me to change my way of thinking in order to achieve my own nirvana.

The article was really an interesting one dealing with happpiness!

Thanks for sending me and in the future
send me more !!

My friend Lynne and I were discussing happiness vs. security. I was having trouble getting my ideas across, so I consulted the computer for the "Secret of Happiness". Your wonderful article was the first link.
Perfectly explained!

I also sent it to my erythema nodosum Support Group to reach our nearly 1200 members. In spite of health issues we overwhelmingly are happy people, and I know this article will be appreciated.

Wishing Everyone who reads this a Happy Day!
Love,
Rebecca

It's my first time browsing this article. Obviously I like it.

Count your blessings, my grandmother would say, and I do, and it never fails, never never never fails, to make me happy, even though my life situation is far from wealthy or stress-free, it just doesn't matter because I have so much to be grateful for and am so rich in blessings. Hmm. And not in the least religious. Funny hey. *smiles*

the article for happiness is mind blowing, i am looking other such articles also to read which open your blockages of mind and encourages us to grow more spiritual

It's true that be happy is in fact very easy, but we can't get away from some troubles in reality.Maybe the course of the life.

Im infact VERY happy, true oprtimist. but i did this 1 hour happiness exercise anywayz. i got 233 blessings:D:D:D:D:D very proud!!! everyone should be happy, i dont understand how people dont let themselves be happy.

I have actually learnt from you how to be happy all the days of my life.God bless you

It is funny how life works. I have just returned from hospital after seeing my mother who will be going into Palliative Care tomorrow. I was looking for some inspiration and stumbled onto your website. Somebody is looking after me as what I have read on this site has really hit home to me that what you seek you will receive. My eyes have seeked and my heart has received. Thank you.

This is a great article that can really teach you a lot about life and how to choose happiness.

Wonderfull site !

That young boy was truly blessed with the gift of laughter, or happiness. I think lots of people would agree that circumstance and other things to affect your mood. It is up to you, not to let it control you. Very few people can handle quick change that easy. Most need to think things through then resolve them. It is a pattern of understanding. I find myself with the most incredible sense of humor at times, and i have no clue how i can be that way, while all else is falling apart in my life. I uplift people who come to me and share things that they are facing. is there really a secret to happiness? or is it what you choose to be? Choosing to be happy and see a positive outlook no matter what, or you choose to let it control you? that young boy quickly understood, there was no point of return. So he choose. What a testimony!! I pray to be that way everytime. We need to be encouraged and to encourage.

I woke up on the "wrong side of the bed" this morning. I typed in "Jewish inspiration" in my search engine and came upon this site. This was just the push I needed today to realize that I am grateful that I woke up at all this morning! Thank you!

An attitude of gratitude is another way to appreciate what you have and to achieve happiness. Often, what we perceive as negative, loss of a job, is actually a blessing if it leads to an even better job. We cannot always control what happens to us but we can always control our response to it. In other words we can turn the worst tradegy into a work of art or a life devoted to charity and good works.

I am a seeker of truth, but don't know what it is? Thanks for your encourangement.

How inspiring! I am basically a very cynical person and did not think any column would help me. However, I couldn't be more wrong. Thank you. Oh, and by the way, my eyes are very important to me!

Happiness is a choice. I choose to be happy every day of my life. I look around and see that I am blessed to be alive and to have a purpose.

Before I read this article I was so sad that I didn't think I could have cared for anything or anyone, I felt miserable but after reading this I have understood all the things that we fret for, are miniscule compared to the happiness that we should be having just for being alive and healthy and with friends and family and so on.I am content...Thanks a lot..

i'd just like to thankyou on ur awe-inspiring article. It has really helped me priortize what is significant in life and discover what truly makes me happy. Its really been an eye opener

thanks once again

I really love it because it can be a hepful tool when you're depressed. It makes you think why you are creating so many problems if you can be happy if you propose that.

your article on happiness is really amazing. I wonder why people feel depresed for things that are beyond their control.

I really love the article. I fully believe in everything that was written and I think its great that is being put out there for anyone who is searching to find it.

Thank You

I'm severely depressed, but this article has given me a whole new out look on life. I was down and out, but I realize now, there's no reason to be.
A wonderful article, and i WILL recomend it to my friends!

Excellent article on the internal aspect of happiness and how happiness is a choice. Love the examples and the excercises that help bring this concept to life.

As a Life Coach I am always looking for resources to help my clients develop a happier life. This is one of the best I have found.

Rachelle

Appeciation is the key!

thanks for the article "secret to happiness" i really like reading it. It gives a lesson for those who lost hope when tradgedy comes to ones life. It has a big impact. It gives more courage to those who are deeply discourage.

Great article !! Indeed this article i read online has so much deep meaning to life. Everyone should read it.

I REALLY ENJOYED READING THIS,,IT MAKES ALOT OF SENSE,,SOME THINGS IN HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE AS PEOPLE NEED TO THINK ABOUT MORE OFTEN THAN WE DO !!!

The one line proverb is truly explained in the above article . Having intensively gone thorugh this website over the last 3 days , I am undergoing a strange feeling of confort , of victory , of appreciating life itself . May God bless all Jews and all of mankind . Peace be on earth .
I am an Indian from the city of Calcutta .

This article speaks the truth so profoundly. How I wish I would have used this to teach my children when they were young. Maybe there's still time, as long as I learn it first!

One of the secrets I have for happiness is to think of the worries and problems I don't that most people do have. I'm single. I have autism. I don't have a spouse to nag at me every minute. I don't worry about divorce or trying to keep some wife happy. I don't worry whether I have a job or not. I write books and I'm working on getting one published. My Mom, sisters, and brother in law help me out. I was reading this article that I dug up with the search engine on my computer and realized people from all walks of life can be happy if they choose to be. Maybe happiness is a choice and what you believe. If you believe you are happy then chances are you probably are.

I am a Chinese, and find this site by accident. I really appreicate the wisdom here. Hope to make friends, and
hope to ask questions

This is one of the best articles I've ever read.

When I went to this site I knew I had to learn something about life, like happiness, wisdom, being nice to everybody.

I'm not Jewish but I respect and appreciate all Jewish. I found this site by accident as I was searching in Google for rabinical law in reference to the menses and married life. I found my answer and this beutiful site of wisdom and fun. I enjoy so much all I have read, that I've made it a fevorite in my computer at work and home.

I was once told to do this task. And after a long period of wollowing in my own unhappiness, I tried it, and of corse it works, but the most amazing thing is, it doesnt stop there, i will do it again, and achieve a higher level of happiness...and so on. If you want to better yourself, this is a good way to start.

I found this very helpful...and will try to put what i learnt into practise.
Thank you,
Anan

This is a realy great article. i love how you want people to be more happier with themselves. its an extrodinary MITZVAH!
G-D Bless you!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRING WISDOM.

I LOVE IT ALL. I APPRECIATE IT AND

I WORK ON THIS EVERY DAY. IT WORKS. WORK IT. THANKS YOU.

I had to laugh because G--d is really wonderful! I had a friend send this to me during an extremely bad time.

I lost one friend to jealousy. My Grandfather is in the hospital. Another friend's Grandmother died. And another friends Grandmother had a stroke and is in critical condition. I can thank G--d for the positive aspects of each situation, but this article drove it home.

May G--d bless you Rabbi Weinberg and Aish HaTorah.

Today I came accross your article about happiness as a state of mind, and in paying attention to the blessings we do have. I liked the excersise as it helps to focus my mind. I still have a long way to go, but it's a start.
Thank you for the excellent work you are doing. The jewish
sites I have explored offer a wealth of information and guidance in how to make the most of our lives, by making it G-d centered. The articles are well written, in practical terms, yet with enourmous depth. Thanks for your efforts, for giving sad people like me a ray of hope.

I am not Jewish, but enjoy many of the
aish articles. This was wonderful,
it really makes you realize, how much
we do have and should be grateful for.
Barbara Albert

i think there isn´t much to add or comment because its the kind of thing that will allways be printed in your heart and this can become the wind beneth your wings
thank you all

I've heard a translation of the verse in Avot (4:1) as "Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot" and not he who is happy with what he has, the reason for that is, because a persons lot entails not just what he has, but also what he doesn't have.

I felt happy and grateful just reading this. All of us need to be reminded to keep a daily happiness journal -- even if just in our heads.

I want you to know two things. One I realy loved this article and two even without the blessings you have here one can be so happy! My father, cannot walk can bearly see, cannot even feed himself, all he has are his ears and one finger and he is so happy!

I can't begin to tell you how inspiring this article is for me. I am sending it to everyone!

I really enjoyed the article.This is exactly the way I'm trying to live like.
Besides,All Rabbi Weinberg's articles
are exactly the way he leads his life.This is amazing! He's actually living his articles. Thank you Rabbi Weinberg.
I want to write a poem that i liked:
I asked G-d for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey;
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things;

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise;
I asked for power, that I might hav ethe praise of man,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of G-d;

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy things;
I got nothing that I asked for - but everything I had hoped for,
Almost despite myself, my unspokenn prayers were answered,
I am among all men, most richly blessed.

i was having a mediocre day and after reading this, it really helped me and put things in perspective.. i am going to print a copy of this and put it up on my wall.

Great article,It made me realise I have
so much to be thankful for.I think most
people(myself included) dwell for too
long on what we haven't got.

This article was awesome, it made me realize that life is truly wonderful, most people just disregard their happiness. It also made me realize that I am truly blessed, I have all my senses, and until today did not really appreciate them.

This article was so uplifting and energizing. I have done the exercise every evening of listing five things I am grateful for this past day, sometimes the last item is that I am grateful for the two pillows and comforter on my bed. The world would not be so frustrated if everyone counted to five each evening!!

I enjoyed the article tremendously and want to share it with others.