An Essential Ingredient of Happiness

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” — Albert Einstein

So true. Viktor Frankl, in “Man’s Search for Meaning,” also wrote of purpose and goals as central to a happy life. People will often let you down, and people are not under your control. Your goals are largely under control. Show me a person without goals or purpose, and you will be showing me an unhappy person. Relationships with people and material things can contribute to a meaningful life, for sure; but if you try to replace goals with other people or with things, you will be chronically disappointed.