…people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck,something that maybe will descend upon you like fine weather if you’refortunate enough. But that’s not how happiness works. Happiness is theconsequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insistupon it, and sometimes even travel the world looking for it. You haveto participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your ownblessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you mustnever become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort tokeep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on topof it. If you don’t, you will leak away your innate contentment. It’seasy enough to pray when you’re in distress but continuing to pray evenwhen your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping yoursoul hold tight to its good attainments.

…people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that maybe will descend upon you like fine weather if you’re fortunate enough. But that’s not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don’t, you will leak away your innate contentment. It’s easy enough to pray when you’re in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments.
Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray and Love (via quote-book)