happiness occurs naturally

There are many things we can let go of. For example, we have an idea. We have an idea, like, “If I don’t have that, I’ll never feel happy”…But if we can rid ourselves of those ideas, happiness will naturally flood in. Joy and happiness will suddenly flood in. So, our ideas, our perceptions, can also be the very causes of our pain and suffering. So, we should examine whether we have any ideas, or perceptions, or prejudices, or stereotypes, that need to be let go. The more one can let go, the happier one becomes.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Thien Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet, and teacher, who founded the Plum Village Tradition, historically recognized as the main inspiration for engaged Buddhism.