---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is not a destination or an…"
description: "\"Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision.\" — Carlos Santana"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg"
---

#  Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a…

![“Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision.” quote by Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg)

> “Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision.”

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Happiness is a conscious choice, not a destination or fleeting feeling.

**In simple terms:** Choose happiness daily.

Key Takeaway

Decide to be happy each day.

Themes

happiness choice mindset

Mood

optimistic thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- daily routines
- mental health
- personal development

Key Concepts

self‑determination psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What daily habits help you choose happiness?
- Can happiness be chosen during hardship?

A Different Perspective

Choosing happiness can ignore legitimate struggles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destination/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/)

## Related quotes

> [“Happiness is not a destination, it is the journey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-h-dunn-2/happiness-is-not-a-destination-it-is-the-journey/)

Paul H Dunn

> [Happiness is not a destination. It is method of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-not-a-destination-it-is-method-of-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You may just miss an awesome ride if you only look at happiness as a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-weir/you-may-just-miss-an-awesome-ride-if-you-only-look-at-happiness-as-a/)

[Ingrid Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-weir/)

> [The journey is what brings us happiness not the destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/the-journey-is-what-brings-us-happiness-not-the-destination/)

[Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/)

> [Happiness... is not a destination: it is a manner of traveling. Happiness is not an end in itself. It is a by-product of working,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/happiness-is-not-a-destination-it-is-a-manner-of-traveling-happiness/)

[Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/)

> [Happiness is not a destination, but a journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-not-a-destination-but-a-journey/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People get lost when they think of happiness as a destination. We're always thinking that some day we'll be happy. We will get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/people-get-lost-when-they-think-of-happiness-as-a-destination-we-re/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Happiness is not a destination. It is a mood, it is not permanent. It comes and goes and if people thought that way then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-schwahn/happiness-is-not-a-destination-it-is-a-mood-it-is-not-permanent-it/)

Mark Schwahn

> [“Happiness is not a destination, it's a method of travel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-john/happiness-is-not-a-destination-it-s-a-method-of-travel/)

St. John

> [“Happiness is not a destination. It is a way of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/happiness-is-not-a-destination-it-is-a-way-of-life/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [“Happiness Is Not A Destination. Happiness Is A Decision. Decide On The Reality You Want To Live!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesam-fawzi/happiness-is-not-a-destination-happiness-is-a-decision-decide-on-the/)

[Wesam Fawzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesam-fawzi/)

> [People get lost when they think of happiness as a destination. Happiness is not a destination but a mood and it comes and goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/people-get-lost-when-they-think-of-happiness-as-a-destination/)

[Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/)

> [I feel like people get lost when they think of happiness as a destination. We always think that someday we'll be happy. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-tree-hill/i-feel-like-people-get-lost-when-they-think-of-happiness-as-a/)

One Tree Hill

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

## More by Carlos Santana

> [Every day you wake up is an opportunity to go beyond, and that 's why I let my band go right now. For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/every-day-you-wake-up-is-an-opportunity-to-go-beyond-and-that-s-why-i/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [There's a melody in everything. And once you find the melody, then you connect immediately with the heart. Because sometimes English or Spanish, Swahili…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/there-s-a-melody-in-everything-and-once-you-find-the-melody-then-you/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [The concept is to weave in some emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/the-concept-is-to-weave-in-some-emotion/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [The worst thing you can become in life is cynical. Cynical is like concrete. and nothing grows in concrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/the-worst-thing-you-can-become-in-life-is-cynical-cynical-is-like/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [I don’t eat meat because meat brings out negative qualities such as fear, anger, anxiety, aggressiveness, etc. Vegetables peacefully offer themselves to the earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/i-don-t-eat-meat-because-meat-brings-out-negative-qualities-such-as/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [If you want to be successful, just meditate, man. God will tell you what people need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/if-you-want-to-be-successful-just-meditate-man-god-will-tell-you-what/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [Your wrinkles either show that you're nasty, cranky, and senile, or that you're always smiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/your-wrinkles-either-show-that-you-re-nasty-cranky-and-senile-or-that/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [John Coltrane is still probably one of the greatest musicians of this century. His tone truly puts demons on a leash. His gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/john-coltrane-is-still-probably-one-of-the-greatest-musicians-of-this/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [Ever since I was a child I've always been very attracted to melodies. Whether I hear Jeff Beck, a choir, an ocean or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/ever-since-i-was-a-child-i-ve-always-been-very-attracted-to-melodies/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [You are not realistic unless you believe in miracles!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/you-are-not-realistic-unless-you-believe-in-miracles/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [Disposicion a transformacion personal es clave para Iluminacion Global.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/disposicion-a-transformacion-personal-es-clave-para-iluminacion-global/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [I know I'm not the kind of person who's gonna wind up a walking jukebox, like many rock 'n' roll artists. They just play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/i-know-i-m-not-the-kind-of-person-who-s-gonna-wind-up-a-walking/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [There is no person that love cannot heal; there is no soul that love cannot save.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/there-is-no-person-that-love-cannot-heal-there-is-no-soul-that-love/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [Bring the brothers home, and sisters home now. Legalize marijuana and take all that money and invest it in teachers and in education. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/bring-the-brothers-home-and-sisters-home-now-legalize-marijuana-and/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [Your mind is a magnet. You don't attract what you need or what you want; you attract who you are. And I love who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/your-mind-is-a-magnet-you-don-t-attract-what-you-need-or-what-you/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

[Explore all 85 Carlos Santana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

## More Decision quotes

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/)

[Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/)

> [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/)

[Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/)

> [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/)

[Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/)

> [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/)

[Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/)

> [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

[Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carlos Santana"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-experience-it-s-a-decision/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decision"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-experience-it-s-a-decision/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/carlos-santana-7960_decision_happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-exp_1800630.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision.” — Carlos Santana",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Carlos Santana",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Happiness is not a destination or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-experience-it-s-a-decision/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/happiness-is-not-a-destination-or-an-experience-it-s-a-decision/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
