It has been my finding that actually the opposite is true. I believe that happiness is a stimulus and response is what life brings to those who are truly happy. When we are happy， we tend to have more success in our work. When we are happy， people want to be around us and enjoy loving relationships. When we are happy， we more naturally take better care of our bodies and enjoy good health. Happiness is not a response—rather， it is a stimulus.
Happiness is a conscious choice we make every day of our lives. For unknown reasons to me， many choose to be miserable， frustrated and angry most of the time. Happiness is not something that happens to us after we get something we want—we usually get things we want after we choose to be happy.
很多人都找到了令自己快乐的源泉——有些人全身心地投入工作；很多人吸毒和酗酒；还有数不清的人，从拥有名贵汽车、异国情调的度假小屋和其他一些流行“玩具”中寻找到了快乐。他们的努力大多基于一个共同的事实：人们在寻找永恒的快乐源泉。
但我认为，很多人与快乐无缘。因为他们错误地理解了寻找快乐的过程。
现在，有些人认为名贵汽车、高薪工作和爱情都是刺激物，而快乐就是刺激的结果。这种想法让我们觉得：“当我拥有……时，我才会快乐。”
但我发现，事实恰好相反。我相信快乐也是一种刺激物，而它作为刺激的结果，是生活给那些真正快乐的人的馈赠。我们快乐时，就会在工作上取得更多的成功；我们快乐时，就会有融洽的人际关系，也会得到爱情垂青；我们快乐时，很自然地就会善待自己，关注自身健康。快乐并不是刺激的结果，而是一种刺激物。
快乐是我们每天在生活中作出的有意识的选择。不知为何，我认为，许多人多数时候都选择让自己痛苦、沮丧和恼怒。快乐并不是得到自己想要的东西之后的感觉——我们往往是在选择快乐之后，才会得到自己想要的东西。