?What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Happiness is a state of mind, as such it is fluid, never static, constantly changing, influenced by environment and circumstances but emanating from inside.
People who harbor resentment are normally unhappy; resentment comes from the inconformity of self, thinking one deserves more or better than the reality, which often leads of envy. Resentment may be present anywhere, any race, social or economic status.
Religious faith is the vaccine that immunizes you against resentment; the firm conviction that God is in charge, that He acts in ignoto or unknowable ways that we cannot possibly understand, but should nevertheless accept in faith. To be able to do so, as I believe, one must have a personal, intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity. I do not think that precludes people who do not profess my religion, believe in The Virgin Mary or call God by a different name, from also having a personal relationship with God.
At crucial times in my life and without telling anyone, indeed unable to express it in words, I have felt an inner conviction, an inner peace, a suggestion of how to feel or what to do. I attribute it to faith. Practicing the Roman Catholic religion into which I was born certainly helps to deepen and better understand one's faith, as does reading and studying the history of our church. Participation in the Holy Sacraments is food for faith.
I pity those that without faith have to face drastic events such as exile, loss of sight and most of all, loss of a child. The conviction that God allowed it sustains and comforts one, realizing that though beyond our capacity to understand, there must be a purpose to it.
In summary, unless one can be happy most of the time, one misses the better things of life. Love and good companionship of a spouse, visits of children and grandchildren, reunions of family and friends. In an unhappy, depressed state it is impossible to enjoy those things.
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