Q: I have worked hard to own a good home and car. I have invested a lot of time and energy in my partner and two kids. I know some important and some famous individuals. My life seems sort of worthless, however, and I struggle to be happy. You seem very happy. What do you do?

 A: While everything you mentioned is an important part of life, from my perspective I believe I can answer your question in one sentence:

I have found that genuine happiness is a choice and is more consistently linked with working toward your goals and life vision rather than to things you own or even people you know.

What do I do? I stay focused on my goals and life vision, including doing at least one random act of kindness each day. And I think of at least one thing for which I am grateful (and happy) each morning when I awaken and each evening before I fall asleep. Gratitude has been found to increase one's happiness. Cultivating gratitude can help you to break free from the rat race of ever pursuing more. By being grateful for what you have, you will gradually start to be more content with your life. You will notice that gratefulness can slowly help you to be happier in your life. Every day be thankful for something or someone. Thank someone for something they did for you. Text someone and tell them you appreciate that they are in your life. Train yourself to be thankful for little things...the more the better. Gratitude is the antidote for fear, including anxiety, and worry, forms of fear.