In 1940, Alan Watts released his groundbreaking book 'The Meaning of Happiness'.

Pulling in eastern philosophy and western mysticism,

this book attempts to explain where happiness comes from.

Here are 7 quotes that resonated with me:

1/

"The problem before us is how to find such a center of relaxed balance and poise ... a center whose happiness is unshaken by the whirl that goes on around it, which creates happiness because of itself and not because of external events."

2/

“Trying to explain Zen is like trying to catch wind in a box; the moment you the lid it ceases to be wind and in time becomes stagnant air.”

3/

“There is no greater freedom than the freedom to be what you are now.”

4/

“We see God every time we open our eyes."

5/

"The longest way around is the shortest way home."

6/

“All men suffer... but not all are unhappy, for unhappiness is a reaction to suffering, not suffering itself.”

7/

"Wisdom ... consists in accepting what we are, rather than in struggling fruitlessly to be something else, as if it were possible to run away from one’s own feet.”

Takeaways:

1. Acceptance is the key to freedom & happiness.

2. Life consists of dualities that are inherent, don't resist them.

3. How you react to circumstances is a choice.

4. Find your unshakeable center inside yourself.

That's it! If you want more, check out the extensive library by Alan Watts:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts#Works