The most damaging erroneous belief about happiness is, of course, that happiness is somewhere else--that is, that it is not with you.

ROBERT HOLDEN, Happiness Now: Timeless Wisdom for Feeling Good Fast

The belief that happiness has to be deserved has led to centuries of pain, guilt, and deception. So firmly have we clung to this single, illusory belief that we've almost forgotten the real truth about happiness. So busy are we trying to deserve happiness that we no longer have much time for ideas such as: Happiness is natural, happiness is a birthright, happiness is free, happiness is a choice, happiness is within, and happiness is being. The moment you believe that happiness has to be deserved, you must toil forevermore.