Happiness Within

I'm dealing with some pretty heavy things right now in my life but as always the tools that are necessary for me to get through the challenges seem to reveal themselves when I need them.  I'm reading a book co-written by the Dalai Lama and he states in the book that happiness is found within and is independent of all outside influences.  He adds if someone has discovered the happiness within then nothing on the outside can extinguish it and by the same token if someone has not found that same brand of happiness nothing in the world, no amount of money or the greatest realized dreams can give them lasting peace and contentment.

Being a huge fan of new age and spiritual books I've heard this time and time again but for some reason, at this time and in this place in my life it has really resonated and has become real to me.  It seems like such a major lesson that it almost feels as though I've graduated in a sense.  Paramahansa Yogananda always said that you should strive to carry your peace with you always. It only took me 37 years of living and 15 years of meditation but I know without a doubt that I've finally found my own, for that I am thankful.