Nick Hornby wrote in his book High Fidelity that the older he became the more he realized that trying to be happy is similar to trying to keep a cold. In the difficulty sense, that is.

There comes a point in some people's lives it seems that being happy isn't a very high priority. Life becomes so much simpler. You don't spend so much time worrying about being happy, and in that way, it relieves so much stress. You then start to do things because you want to or because they make sense, not because it makes you happy. And no, those two things don't always align themselves together.

Happiness is overrated, joy is not. People avoid so much in life because they want to be happy apparently. They miss so much. Why not just let the chips fall as they may? Why not just live and let live? Let things happen as they come at you, don't avoid them for this vague idea of happiness that is rarely attainable anyhow. This world we live in tries so much to bring a mixed view of what happiness should look like. Do more, get more, be more, try more, and there you will find more. Has it ever occurred, especially as a man, that there never seems to be enough time to fit all these standards in and sometimes we feel fainthearted?
We become so scared sometimes that we feel afraid to become what we were meant to be and our joy is stolen from us. It says in the Scriptures that joy is from God and it’s only complete through him, but happiness seems to crowd it out because we try to be happy. Joy is of the present and basking in what grace we have been given to cherish every moment of life we have.

The lifelong search for happiness is probably just being scared of life itself, the way I see it. And no, I'm not saying you should be miserable or hate yourself, but honestly, let God give you life and just let life happen.

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