If you listen to the news reports, the key to happiness is to be found in a stack of dollar bills because that is how "they" all measure success and successful people are happy people, right? When people talk about dreams, they often speak of those dreams in terms of things that all cost money. But, money cannot buy you happiness. So, where does true happiness come from then?

Once you eliminate all of the outside voices, you start to listen to the one inside of you, the voice that is telling you what you need. Sure, you might need to work a job that leaves you less than thrilled to earn enough money to pay the bills, but do you have to stay extra hours at that miserable place if you don't like being there? Does the extra money really help out that much? One study looked at a group of parents who admitted that they did not care for their current job but were not in the position to make a change. Some were asked to work overtime hours and some were not. The people who worked the overtime earned more money than the others but in terms of happiness were either equally as happy or less happy than those who worked fewer hours. The reason was simple: not only were the overtime hours cutting into free time and time spent with family, it ended up costing more to many of the parents in the long run. Once they paid for additional child care, which sometimes meant some stressful negotiating to get the babysitter to stay late or even hiring a second care giver on a temporary basis, their overtime bonus was far lower than expected.

If work is not doing it for you it is important to find at least one activity that makes you truly happy. How long has it been since you laughed until you were breathless? How long has it been since you took a nap for no reason or stayed up late to watch a Mel Brooks movie with your favorite person?

Don't let anyone else define your happiness, ever. Only you can hear the voice inside of you that is telling you to buy a red balloon and give it to a frowning child or to dance to the music in the grocery store. Only you know what makes you happiest and only you can get it for you. So, go and get it. Happiness is the key to life and it is in your own back pocket.