Imagine this–You get the job you want, start making more money, date the person of your dreams, get a brand-new car, and travel when and wherever you'd like... life is good, right? Life is going exactly how you expected, maybe even better than you hoped. This makes being "happy" as simple as waking up. However, this sense of happiness is short-lived if it's dependent on these materials and situations. I know because I was there. I was living the American Dream, but I quickly found out it was not MY dream. My career, the people I dated, the house I purchased, and the cars I bought were all motivated by a deeper desire; to be accepted, seen, and loved for WHO I AM. When I realized this inner truth, I thought releasing my attachment to these would be easy and would lead to immediate results of relief and peace. I was wrong. I felt worse before I felt grateful. I sold my home but didn't get as much as I had expected. I ended unhealthy relationships but felt lonely. I held onto the car for too long and it got repossessed, leading to a dark season of shame and inadequacy. The truth is happiness is less about the circumstances you're in. It's about "the comparison between the event and the expectation in your mind of how life should be." (see link below) Consider the US election and the polarizing response we're witnessing. Some are ecstatic, while others are distraught. Their lives have not changed. Their everyday routines have not shifted much. The only difference is that some had their expectations of this election met while many others did not. The way we choose to RESPOND to these events is where our focus needs to be. 1) Acknowledge your Attachments - are you aware of your conscious and subconscious expectations? Do you have a bias toward certain outcomes and events? Make note of that. 2) Accept the Reality - When has worrying about an issue solved the issue? Rather than draining your life force energy on wishing things weren't the way they were, practice RADICAL ACCEPTANCE. This is a necessary part of protecting your peace.