--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Usually we try to figure out what we…" description: "\"Usually we try to figure out what we think would make us happy, and then try to make those things happen. But happiness isn't circumstance-de pendent. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/marianne-williamson-90_circumstance_usually-we-try-to-figure-out-what-we-thi_1243473.png" --- # Usually we try to figure out what we think would make us… ![“Usually we try to figure out what we think would make us happy, and then try to make those things happen. But happiness isn't circumstance-de pendent. There are people who have every reason in the world to be happy who aren't. There are people with genuine problems who are. The key to happiness is…” quote by Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/marianne-williamson-90_circumstance_usually-we-try-to-figure-out-what-we-thi_1243473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/marianne-williamson-90_circumstance_usually-we-try-to-figure-out-what-we-thi_1243473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/marianne-williamson-90_circumstance_usually-we-try-to-figure-out-what-we-thi_1243473.png) > “Usually we try to figure out what we think would make us happy, and then try to make those things happen. But happiness isn't circumstance-de pendent. There are people who have every reason in the world to be happy who aren't. There are people with genuine problems who are. The key to happiness is the decision to be happy.” [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## 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 dependent on circumstances; one can decide to be happy regardless of external conditions. **In simple terms:** Happiness is a decision, not a circumstance. Key Takeaway Choose happiness daily, regardless of situation. Themes happiness choice mindset inner peace resilience Mood hopeful calm empowering Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - stress management - relationship building - career challenges - health recovery Key Concepts Positive psychology cognitive reframing mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What small decision can shift your mood today? - How do you sustain happiness during crises? A Different Perspective Choosing happiness may feel forced when facing severe hardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstance/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Key to happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-to-happiness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Timing really is nearly everything. And what it isn't, circumstance makes up for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/timing-really-is-nearly-everything-and-what-it-isn-t-circumstance/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [The key to happiness is the decision to be happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-key-to-happiness-is-the-decision-to-be-happy/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“You don’t happen to have any happiness, do you? Can I borrow a cup?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/you-don-t-happen-to-have-any-happiness-do-you-can-i-borrow-a-cup/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Happiness is a decision I must make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/happiness-is-a-decision-i-must-make/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [At some point you have to realize the key to happiness isn't doing things to seek the approval of others, but doing things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-some-point-you-have-to-realize-the-key-to-happiness-isn-t-doing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your Happiness is who you are and your decision about your life is the ultimate decision and goal for you in life, you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/your-happiness-is-who-you-are-and-your-decision-about-your-life-is/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [“A dear friend of mine recently asked me how did I find happiness after all that i have been through? After thinking about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-passaro/a-dear-friend-of-mine-recently-asked-me-how-did-i-find-happiness/) [John Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-passaro/) > [It might sound trite, but happiness is a decision not a destination, and my choices now are all based on whether not a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suw-charman-anderson/it-might-sound-trite-but-happiness-is-a-decision-not-a-destination/) [Suw Charman-Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suw-charman-anderson/) > [“Happiness is a decision and so as Love. If you decide to be happy then you're happy. If you decide to love then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-marie-aguilar/happiness-is-a-decision-and-so-as-love-if-you-decide-to-be-happy-then/) [Ann Marie Aguilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-marie-aguilar/) > [Happiness is a decision, not an experience. You can decide to be happy without what you thought you needed in order to be happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/happiness-is-a-decision-not-an-experience-you-can-decide-to-be-happy/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Happiness is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/happiness-is-a-decision/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [“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/) > [“I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all this joy; then I wondered why I couldn't be that joyful. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-roberts/i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-felt-annoyed-by-all-this-joy/) Suzanne Roberts > [The power of nonviolence is not circumstance-specific. It is as applicable to the problems that confront us now, as to problems that confronted generations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-power-of-nonviolence-is-not-circumstance-specific-it-is-as/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You can live your life out of a circumstance or you can live your life out of a vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-can-live-your-life-out-of-a-circumstance-or-you-can-live-your/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by Marianne Williamson > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Great people are not people who have never fallen down. Greatness has to do with how you get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/great-people-are-not-people-who-have-never-fallen-down-greatness-has/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I feel that if your soul was branded by the sixties, you never lost the brand. It's like going into a nightclub and having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-feel-that-if-your-soul-was-branded-by-the-sixties-you-never-lost/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Until we have met the monsters in ourselves, we keep trying to slay them in the outer world. And we find that we cannot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/until-we-have-met-the-monsters-in-ourselves-we-keep-trying-to-slay/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [No matter how sad we might be, the universe is still planning our happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/no-matter-how-sad-we-might-be-the-universe-is-still-planning-our/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Love is who we are, and when we deviate from that love we're deviating from our ultimate, essential, eternal reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/love-is-who-we-are-and-when-we-deviate-from-that-love-we-re-deviating/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [For many, many people, getting married is one of the most important things they will ever do in the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/for-many-many-people-getting-married-is-one-of-the-most-important/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [It is not too late. You are not too old. You are right on time-And you are better than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/it-is-not-too-late-you-are-not-too-old-you-are-right-on-time-and-you/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I tell my mother I went to God in spite of my religious education. I feel that my religious education was inadequate, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-tell-my-mother-i-went-to-god-in-spite-of-my-religious-education-i/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. You could be a congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-spiritual-seeker-you-can-be-a-businessman/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Dear God, I surrender this thought to you, for I would see the miracle that lies behind it. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/dear-god-i-surrender-this-thought-to-you-for-i-would-see-the-miracle/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Explore all 1,347 Marianne Williamson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More Circumstance quotes > [The Circumstance of your life don't have to dictate the outcome of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-wilmont/the-circumstance-of-your-life-don-t-have-to-dictate-the-outcome-of/) [Teresa Wilmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-wilmont/) > [Circumstance does not make me, it reveals me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/circumstance-does-not-make-me-it-reveals-me/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Man liveth from hour to hour, and knoweth not what may happen; Influences circle him on all sides, and yet must he answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/man-liveth-from-hour-to-hour-and-knoweth-not-what-may-happen/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [“God never tells me to get over something and just get past it. Never. Instead, He asks me to trust Him with every circumstance.10”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/god-never-tells-me-to-get-over-something-and-just-get-past-it-never/) [John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/) > [You just try to get the best jobs that you can get. Sometimes I produce my own movies, so that's your own sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/you-just-try-to-get-the-best-jobs-that-you-can-get-sometimes-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [“Your circumstance is not your outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-r-sneed-carter/your-circumstance-is-not-your-outcome/) [Anita R. Sneed-Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-r-sneed-carter/) > [“Under any circumstance, always do your best, no more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is never going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/under-any-circumstance-always-do-your-best-no-more-and-no-less-but/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [“manner, a change of circumstance happens as a result of a change in your state of consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville/manner-a-change-of-circumstance-happens-as-a-result-of-a-change-in/) [Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville/) > [You know, you don't need a leader to sort of administer something that's going very well. In fact, in one sense, an overly ambitious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-v-gerstner-jr/you-know-you-don-t-need-a-leader-to-sort-of-administer-something-that/) [Louis V. Gerstner, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-v-gerstner-jr/) > [“God said to accept whatever circumstances that come along. Circumstance is a natural thing. A claim of “Do this and don’t do that” should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/god-said-to-accept-whatever-circumstances-that-come-along/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides the personal relationship to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mccandless/circumstance-has-no-value-it-is-how-one-relates-to-a-situation-that/) [Christopher McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mccandless/) > [The fact is: You are not a manager of circumstance, you're the architect of your life's experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-fact-is-you-are-not-a-manager-of-circumstance-you-re-the/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“You can overcome your circumstances or you can let your circumstances overcome you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/you-can-overcome-your-circumstances-or-you-can-let-your-circumstances/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-in-the-heart-not-in-the-circumstance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’ is in the form of the eternal element (vastu swaroop) and ‘my’ is in the form of circumstances (saiyog swaroop). Circumstance form and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/i-is-in-the-form-of-the-eternal-element-vastu-swaroop-and-my-is-in/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 296 Circumstance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Usually we try to figure out what we think would make us happy, and then try to make those things happen. But happiness isn't circumstance-de pendent. There are people who have every reason in the world to be happy who aren't. There are people with genuine problems who are. 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