Still Miserable?

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But Heaven knows, I’m miserable now
I was looking for a job and then I found a job
And Heaven knows, I’m miserable now

In my life, why do I give valuable time
To people who don’t care if I live or die? -lyrics from the song, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” by The Smiths

“Are you amazed to find that even with such extensive travel, to so many varied locales, you have not managed to shake off gloom and heaviness from your mind? As if that were a new experience! You must change the mind, not the venue.” -Seneca

“How can you wonder your travels do you no good, when you carry yourself around with you? You are saddled with the very thing that drove you away.” -Socrates

“God laid down this law, saying: if you want some good, get it from yourself.” -Epictetus, Discourses

“Here is how to guarantee you have a good day: do good things. Any other source of joy is outside your control or is nonrenewable. But this one is all you, all the time, and unending. It is the ultimate form of self-reliance.” -Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way. There is no way to peace, peace is the way. There is no way to enlightenment, enlightenment is the way.” -Thich Nhat Hanh, The Art of Mindful Living: How to Bring Love, Compassion, and Inner Peace into Your Daily Life

You can get everything you ever wanted and still be miserable.

It’s not that you need more or different wants (though per Arthur Brooks, having less wants does lead to greater satisfaction.)

It’s you.

Change you.

And do some good things.

That will change everything.