One would think, or could think, happiness is a prejudiced outcome of genes and circumstances.

If someone has goodne$$, his family is blessed with health, he has no difficulties, he should be happy. While, someone who is going through hardships, bad health, difficulty making a living, this person shouldn’t be able to be happy. However, this is clearly not the case.

There are people who have it all, every reason to be content with life, and still, they are not happy, while others have nothing, and are always happy. One, always sees the cup half full, the good side and blessings, and minimizes the empty side. This happy camper, accustoms himself to see in everything the points of light, and therefore always feels things are good and a blessing for him. While the sour face, always sees the darkness and the angle that is lacking.

Being happy takes practice and is not categorically a natural trait, it’s entirely dependent on the person. Anybody who decides to see in everything the filled side of the cup, the good, to be happy with his lot and be filled always with gratitude to G-d, for all the beautiful things, like children, grandchildren, health, livelihood, the sunrise and the sunset, can, and will be happy in their attitude and approach to life and its daily occurrences and experiences.

The greatest and strongest foundation for this mentality and perspective to life, is faith. Faith must be fed with thoughts that are supportive. A person’s faith in G-d who runs the world. The persons belief and knowledge that all that G-d does is perfect and is motivated only by kindness. Whether you missed the bus, or someone is not well, you don’t allow worry to bring you down, because you are filled with faith everything will turn out for the good. This faith not only helps the person through the hardships, it actually is a catalyst to bring the cure and remedy.

Happiness, joy and dancing are sometimes spontaneous. Mostly, happiness is dependent on the person himself. You can decide and want to be happy, or remain in sadness and depression, even if it is subconsciously, for some payoff reason.

Joy on its deepest levels, to make the most powerful impact on our lives, is a gift from Heaven; it must have a spiritual element to it. In order to be truly happy and joyous we need blessings from the G-d to open for us the gates of happiness.

Chassidim are always dancing, because they are always longing to lift themselves from the earth and its materialism, if only just a few inches. This elevation brings Joy.

The Holy Baal Shem Tov said, when people give a hand to their friend and their friend to his friend, and they gather and unite together in spirit, body and thought, this bond of unity between them connects them with the Honorable Holy throne of G-d Himself.

When a person dances with his entire soul and body, it is like shaking a garment from all the dust and dirt that is on it. When a person dances with G-dly inspiration, this brings out the soul from the physical. The sand and dust falls, and the clothes become clean.

In the Talmud it teaches, elevating ones voice when praying, arouses concentration. When a person sings, this stimulates and awakens the feelings of the G-dly spark inside, to feel and experience an inner happiness.

In the Holy book of the Zohar it is written, “When we are happy, G-d above reacts to us, in a happy and giving mood.” Rabbi M.M. Schneerson encouraged us, to be happy, sing and dance, for no other reason than because, this is what will bring out from ourselves real blessings and real joy, and this will bring the ultimate of blessings from G-d.

The holiday of Sukkot, opens wellsprings of joy. Eating in the Sukkah, Shaking the Lulav & Etrog, dancing with the Torah, will draw joy for the entire coming year! These days, are THE source of joy. Whoever is happy in these days of Sukkot, with the help of G-d, will be happy (ier) a whole year.

This means literally lifting ones foot and dancing with the Torah, singing in the Sukkah and clapping ones hands while praying over the Holiday.