Our notions about happiness entrap us. We forget that they are just ideas. Our idea of happiness can prevent us from actually being happy. We fail to see the opportunity for joy that is right in front of us when we are caught in a belief that happiness should take a particular form.

Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926–2022) was a celebrated Vietnamese practitioner of Thiền Buddhism and founder of the Plum Village Tradition, which combines a variety of teachings to focus on mindfulness and interbeing. He was internationally recognized for his peace activism and prolific literary output. In 1967, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.