--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are so busy chasing happiness- if…" description: "\"People are so busy chasing happiness- if they would slow down and turn around, they would give it a chance to catch up with them.\" — Harold S. Kushner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png" --- # People are so busy chasing happiness- if they would slow… ![“People are so busy chasing happiness- if they would slow down and turn around, they would give it a chance to catch up with them.” quote by Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png) > “People are so busy chasing happiness- if they would slow down and turn around, they would give it a chance to catch up with them.” [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hushner suggests that by pausing and reflecting, we create space for happiness to arrive, rather than constantly chasing it. **In simple terms:** Slow down to let happiness find you. Key Takeaway Pause, reflect, and welcome happiness. Themes mindfulness patience happiness self‑care reflection inner peace Mood calm hopeful thoughtful Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - daily life - personal growth - mental health - stressful work environments Key Concepts Psychology of happiness mindful living stress reduction Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if you stopped chasing happiness? - How can you create space for joy? A Different Perspective Constant pursuit of happiness can lead to anxiety and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Give it a chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-it-a-chance/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [If you're in a hurry to find happiness, slow down. Give it a chance to catch up with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-you-re-in-a-hurry-to-find-happiness-slow-down-give-it-a-chance-to/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [“Most people are so busy chasing things they don’t have, that they fail to appreciate the things they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/most-people-are-so-busy-chasing-things-they-don-t-have-that-they-fail/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [Life is better when happiness is a slow walker and sadness the fastest walker as they transit through our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/life-is-better-when-happiness-is-a-slow-walker-and-sadness-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Until you take ownership for your life, you will always be chasing happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-stephenson/until-you-take-ownership-for-your-life-you-will-always-be-chasing/) [Sean Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-stephenson/) > [“Why have I been chasing happiness my whole life when bliss was here the entire time?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/why-have-i-been-chasing-happiness-my-whole-life-when-bliss-was-here/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I wondered, "Why have I been chasing happiness my whole life when bliss was here the entire time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-wondered-why-have-i-been-chasing-happiness-my-whole-life-when-bliss/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The problem with chasing after happiness was that it wasn't a destination you could reach. It was something that happened along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/the-problem-with-chasing-after-happiness-was-that-it-wasn-t-a/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Happiness is the time when you're chasing happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kino-makoto/happiness-is-the-time-when-you-re-chasing-happiness/) Kino Makoto > [Happiness is always a by-product. You don't make yourself happy by chasing happiness. You make yourself happy by being a good person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-always-a-by-product-you-don-t-make-yourself-happy-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think one of the keys to happiness is accepting that I am never going to be perfectly happy. Life is uncomfortable. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-melton/i-think-one-of-the-keys-to-happiness-is-accepting-that-i-am-never/) [Glennon Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-melton/) > [“We have come to see money as the key to pleasure, and pleasure as the key to happiness. This definition of happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/we-have-come-to-see-money-as-the-key-to-pleasure-and-pleasure-as-the/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“I cannot give up chasing after happiness simply because there might be pain down the road.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beckstrand/i-cannot-give-up-chasing-after-happiness-simply-because-there-might/) [Jennifer Beckstrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beckstrand/) > [The moment you stop chasing happiness, you become happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-hyatt-james/the-moment-you-stop-chasing-happiness-you-become-happy/) Sandy Hyatt-James > [I think the commercial culture, and also science and technology after all, which gives us greater ease but also makes it harder for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/i-think-the-commercial-culture-and-also-science-and-technology-after/) [Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/) > [Too busy chasing fantasies that you're blind to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-busy-chasing-fantasies-that-you-re-blind-to-reality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Harold S. Kushner > [When a mentally retarded child is born, the religious question we often ask is, "Why does God let this happen?" The better question to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/when-a-mentally-retarded-child-is-born-the-religious-question-we/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [Seek something outside your nine-to-five job as an additional source of fulfillment and as a way to feel the joy of helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/seek-something-outside-your-nine-to-five-job-as-an-additional-source/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [But at the end, if we are brave enough to love, if we are strong enough to forgive, if we are generous enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/but-at-the-end-if-we-are-brave-enough-to-love-if-we-are-strong-enough/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [Life is like the baseball season, where even the best team loses at least a third of its games, and even the worst team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/life-is-like-the-baseball-season-where-even-the-best-team-loses-at/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [The circumstances of your life have uniquely qualified you to make a contribution. And if you don't make that contribution, nobody else can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/the-circumstances-of-your-life-have-uniquely-qualified-you-to-make-a/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [None of us has the power to make someone else love us. But we all have the power to give away love, to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/none-of-us-has-the-power-to-make-someone-else-love-us-but-we-all-have/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [We teach children how to measure and how to weigh. We fail to teach them how to revere, how to sense wonder and awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/we-teach-children-how-to-measure-and-how-to-weigh-we-fail-to-teach/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [God, who neither causes nor prevents tragedies, helps by inspiring people to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/god-who-neither-causes-nor-prevents-tragedies-helps-by-inspiring/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [There seems to be something in the human soul that causes us to think less of ourselves every time we do something wrong... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/there-seems-to-be-something-in-the-human-soul-that-causes-us-to-think/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [There is a Jewish notion that holiness is found with other people. To understand what life really is, one has to share it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/there-is-a-jewish-notion-that-holiness-is-found-with-other-people-to/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [The path to God is rarely a steady climb upward. We climb, we fall back, and we climb higher again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/the-path-to-god-is-rarely-a-steady-climb-upward-we-climb-we-fall-back/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [You don't have to be religious to have a soul; everybody has one. You don't have to be religious to perfect your soul; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/you-don-t-have-to-be-religious-to-have-a-soul-everybody-has-one-you/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [When your life is filled with the desire to see the holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: Ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/when-your-life-is-filled-with-the-desire-to-see-the-holiness-in/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [When I talk to people who feel this emptiness and lack of fulfillment, I recommend they find a source of balance in their lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/when-i-talk-to-people-who-feel-this-emptiness-and-lack-of-fulfillment/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [Forgiveness is a favor we do for ourselves, not a favor we do to the other party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/forgiveness-is-a-favor-we-do-for-ourselves-not-a-favor-we-do-to-the/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) [Explore all 105 Harold S. Kushner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are so busy chasing happiness- if they would slow down and turn around, they would give it a chance to catch up with them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harold S. Kushner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if-they-would-slow-down-and-turn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if-they-would-slow-down-and-turn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/harold-s-kushner-4877_busy_people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if_2328952.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are so busy chasing happiness- if they would slow down and turn around, they would give it a chance…” — Harold S. Kushner", "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": "Harold S. Kushner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People are so busy chasing happiness-...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if-they-would-slow-down-and-turn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/people-are-so-busy-chasing-happiness-if-they-would-slow-down-and-turn/#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 } } ] } ```