There is a common belief that happiness can be summoned through positive thinking, just as sadness can be dissolved by avoiding negative thoughts. This belief feels comforting—but it does not hold up under careful observation.

One may redirect attention when a thought becomes painful. One may distract the mind, dull the edge, or temporarily numb oneself to it. These strategies work—briefly. But they do not eliminate the underlying condition. The thought returns, just as the rain does, even if you manage to dodge a few falling drops.

In the same way, happiness cannot be created by merely thinking happy thoughts. A pleasant idea may lift the mood for a moment, just as an unpleasant one may darken it. Yet neither produces lasting happiness nor lasting sadness. They are momentary gear shifts—small maneuvers within the journey, not a change of direction.

Lasting happiness does not arise from the content of thought, whether good or bad. Nor does lasting sadness. Both arise from deeper conditions: attachment, resistance, expectation, and misunderstanding.

To clearly see this—to truly acknowledge that thinking itself cannot manufacture lasting states—is a major leap in the right direction. Not because it promises happiness, but because it removes a false hope. And in removing illusion, clarity begins.