The Happiest People Don’t Have the Best of Everything, They Just Make the Best of Everything

“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything,” is a popular motivational quote by an unknown author. Sometimes the phrase is mistakenly attributed to Oprah Winfrey, Kate Allatt, Samuel Cawthorn, or other motivational speakers. But that is the magic of a great motivational quote: it inspires millions of people from all walks of life.

Whether the author is known or unknown, a good motivational quote is memorable and full of deeper meanings.

We all seek happiness, but like “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” happiness is a matter of personal perception.

There are countless examples of “moments of happiness” that do not involve having the best of everything but making the best of what we have got. Happiness comes in a myriad of forms.

For instance, career achievements may make some of us happy, while others may enjoy the same feeling on a journey of self-discovery. Likewise, the birth of a child is a moment of absolute happiness for a mother; her wedding day is a moment of joy for a bride.

Society seems to focus on being rich and getting the “best of everything” as sources of happiness. But the best of everything is not always anchored in material possessions like cars, houses, designer clothes, etc. Instead, as we grow older, we realize that true happiness comes out of making the best of every experience and every fleeting moment of joy in our lives.

Sure, having money will enable us to solve many problems, providing security and financial freedom. But even the wealthiest people struggle in the pursuit of happiness.

Take celebrities, for instance: no doubt, they appear to have everything they could possibly need and want. As spectators, we sometimes envy their fame and wealth. Yet, some of these celebrities still struggle with substance addiction and depression. Fame and wealth are not enough to make someone happy.

Happiness is not a place either. It is the sum of what we think and believe about ourselves, others, the world, and our lives. It is also the way we choose to behave in achieving our goals.

Like it is often said, happiness is a state of mind―or, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

Thinking positively about every situation―even the hardest ones―we experience may be one of the paths to achieving mind and soul balance. There are many things in the world happening outside of control. In such instances, those able to control their actions and attitudes will not feel a sense of helplessness that leads to sorrow and desperation. So, if we react by giving it our best in a moment out of our control, we will feel at peace.

Making the best of everything is about believing in ourselves despite the many stumbling blocks in our way.

Think about the stress of traveling: a flight delay may put you in a bad mood, but instead, focus on the positive aspects. You will have time to explore the duty-free shops, people watch, or read an enjoyable book. You can even catch up with work by taking advantage of the free Wi-fi available at the airport. Or write an entry in your journal about your airport experience. If you are a writer, consider the flight delay a writing prompt and create your own story.

Make the best of your stay at The Syntopia: experience Crete the way you want to. This charming island has everything for every traveller: luxury, convenience, fine dining, affordable tavernas, leisurely trips and tours, water sports galore, exciting adventures for adrenaline junkies, off-the-beaten-path gems, mountains with hidden gorges, caves, orchards, vineyards, and so much more.

Crete is “the experience island” because it is a world on its own. It also has a magnetic appeal: many visitors return year after year, and some never leave, making Crete their home because they feel happy here. When you fall in love with a destination, you find a home for your heart.

Other Quotes About Happiness

To conclude this short essay, here are some other quotes about happiness that show that material things are not what we should seek:

“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.” ― Charles Spurgeon.

“The happiest people don’t bother about whether life is unfair. They just concentrate on what they have.” ― Andrew Matthews, Happiness in Hard Times.

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr., Life’s Little Instruction Book.

“The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility for every part of their life.” ― Brian Tracy.

“The happiest people are the ones who follow their own dreams most closely.” ― Donald Jay Deutsch.

“Be yourself. The happiest and most successful people are those who feel the most comfortable with themselves.” ― Leighton Meester.

There are thousands of similar quotes in books, magazines, and online. They are also printed on greeting cards, stickers, magnets, posters, and calendars. But unfortunately, regardless of these motivational quotes, there are no recipes for achieving happiness. We may spend our entire lives in the pursuit and never fully get that intense feeling that makes others live with bliss, even when we try to make the best of everything. In the end, living a life without regrets may be what happiness is all about.