Finding happiness in life can only come from within ourselves. If we think we need the verification of our worth from others, we are setting ourselves up for possible sadness.
The main thing in life is to live a life we consider to be a worthy one, for who can feel happy with themselves if feeling ourselves to be failures. If you look only to others, you are subject to the judgement of those others, and who can know truly from where their judgements arise?
Further to that thought, how can we value ourselves if we have only our own ideas of our value? Being involved in our community, taking part in events, adding assistance to others, these are ways to actively favour good works, encouraging, inspiring, instigating better things for self, and others. But remain aware always that the things done are good in themselves, and be aware of the dangers of self-seeking behaviours, where the seeking of accolades interferes in the good works.
One must remain always aware that how we feel is truly dependant on our own thoughts, and if we feel let down by something, it is because we are letting ourselves feel that way. Sure, bad things can happen, but a happier interpretation is to look on those things as chances to do better. We can only truly rely on ourselves for our own happiness. And remember to take advantage of every moment of good fortune, while realising it is only good if we do so, otherwise it is a good chance squandered.
Moments of good fortune, will surely come more often to the person who sows the seeds for such results. Such things are not based on ‘whims of Nature’ but more likely on sensible forethought, and willingness to reach out and take what is there in front of you.
And living your life in these ways, acting with good will, and with beneficial actions for self and other members of your community, these can assist others to realise these benefits are possible for them too, and so may come to acting well in similar ways. When many act in such good ways, helping themselves to become good people, this is how life for the many can become beneficial to all.
Those who are unable to help themselves for whatever reasons are to be helped up, not looked down on. When you act for the greater good, using your wisdom in such matters, you will realise that your life can be a template, for people to examine, and try to emulate, in their own way. For as we are all different, so our talents may lie in different things, and adding together the various talents of the group, into their joint projects, wonderful and useful results may arise.
A good life, is a happy life – it doesn’t need much of anything, it simply requires enough of the important things – food, water, shelter, purpose. And so purpose in life grows with living the purposeful life, step after step to your best life possible.
My Stoic Life 