Today, you might take a trip to Disney World for the ride of a lifetime. A quick excursion on a Caribbean cruise whisks you away from the world’s troubles. Designer duds or new gear brighten your mood. An exotic romance brings temporary bliss. All sorts of products and experiences promise happiness.

In other words, “things” become the origin of your happiness. What things make you happy? A major soft drink company features a powerful advertisement at the movies: open a bottle of happiness. Exactly how do you become happy by drinking a bottle of soda? Another advertisement shows families sitting down to a “happy meal” in a wondrous setting. How long do you remain happy with a “thing” that you bought?

All “things” become a 21st century phenomenon: manufactured happiness.

In America today, corporations drone their “happiness” from one commercial to the other in an endless line of material goods. Once you possess that sleek new car, you can drive into instant bliss. A certain pill guarantees your happiness. Or a certain shoe, watch, car, or perfume delivers happiness.

America, a preacher on his radio talking, asked a question that woke me up. He asked, “How long do you think happiness lasts?”

I pondered for 25 years, raised my kids and did everything according to my faith. But one of my parishioners put a bug in my ear. He said, “Americans lack deep happiness.”

“That’s great,” I said. “What have you learned?”

“I never knew of anything beyond my congregation,” he said. “I’ve been frightened at what I see out here in the world beyond my block. Many people agree with me about God.”

Some don’t like me preaching to them. Others could care less about God. They believe so much more difficult than me.

“That’s the beauty of adventure,” I said. “I see travel as a way to learn more about life. Travel teaches us how to live more simply. It forces us to adapt, learn, and reflect.”

Another time, while on tour, a 40-year-old fellow walked up to me and asked, “Why are you traveling on that bike? How far have you come?”

“About 150,000 miles in my lifetime,” I said. “I could never do that,” he said. “I hear you died during childbirth. I don’t want to experience that kind of death.”

I said, “Has your story done you any good for 40 years?”

“I can’t help it,” he said. “It runs in my mind. That’s a choice,” I said. “How about deleting the ‘can’t’ and inserting the ‘can’?”

I don’t recall if that conversation helped him or not, but I know that happiness rarely comes from accumulating things.

“Start thinking and speaking in positive terms.”

As with the 40-year-old man, he obsessed with his near-death problem for most of his life. It crippled his potential. The preacher sat inside his pulpit to isolate himself from the tribulations of the world. Some people complain about their problems instead of taking action to solve them.

In your life moving toward genuine happiness, try a few ways to start:

• If we obsess over problems, they become real. Choose to define your daily mental and verbal expressions.
• Choose a sense of elation in your daily routine.
• Instead of focusing on “things” for happiness, settle into moments whether it is a walk in the park, watching a movie, or going dancing. Do activities that bring you joy and do it often.
• If you really want a taste of happiness, volunteer to help someone else. Make them smile.
• Drastically reduce—even delete—the television from your daily living.
• Hang with friends that live their lives with laughter, gusto, energy, and joy.

“For countless people, happiness eludes them, whether by fate, choice, or circumstances.”

Authentic happiness comes from living simply, creating purpose in your life and sharing it with others. You can’t buy happiness, but you can create it.