Happiness Is A Tricky Thing.
I was recently struck with on odd realization when I heard someone mention they needed to work for happiness, On the TV that is. And while I listened and engaged in this listening of the conversation the other party involved in the TV conversation said that this is a contradiction of terms, this “Working To Be Happy”. And I wondered about this.
Questioning the validity of the point, must we work to be happy, in relationships, in life, in our careers, is this a truth, that we contradict the very meaning of happiness by engaging in things that perhaps are not worth engaging in? Must we try to influence ourselves and others around us as to attempt a little joy? And this becomes the work. I further questioned the value of having to work at something so hard, a relationship, a job, a goal. Indeed, we must work hard in all things to get the best results, but what I am questioning here is if the end result we are wishing for is happiness, shouldn’t it come naturally and with joy, as to not have to label it as “working to be happy”.
And at what point do those things that require us to “work to be happy” become worth pursuing and overbear us to give up?
Sometimes it feels like i am a tightrope walker, in a circus,
with hundreds of people looking on from the crowd. Watching to see if i will fall... 
Nice view on life & happiness!
Excellent topic! One of the meanings of “work” is that which we do because we have to rather than that which we want to. So someone who enjoys his vocation may say, “It’s not work for me—I get paid for doing what I love”. And I think “happiness” means not wanting to change a thing: falling into something quite naturally. I’m retired from work so I feel the freedom every day but sometimes I may do volunteer work, unpaid, or help a friend with my services & get paid for that. Having agreed to do these things, I accept the time and quality constraints and so it often ends up that I don’t enjoy doing them. They are “work” and I would be “happy” if suddenly I didn’t need to do them; just as a child is happy if for some reason school is closed for a day.