• Home
  • About
  • Reflections
  • Poetry
    • My Poems
    • Guest Poets
    • Selected Poems
    • Classic Poets
    • Classic Love Poems
    • Zen Poetry, Haiku, and Wisdom
  • Essays
  • Inspiration
    • Love
    • Mandalas and More
    • Native Voices
    • Petals of Sunshine
    • Positive Reinforcement
    • Videos to Inspire and Motivate
  • Quotes
    • Flowers and Gardens
    • Native American Wisdom
    • Peaceful Thoughts
  • Guestbook
  • Sitemap

Inspiration for the Spirit

A lovely place to wander for poetry and inspiration to soothe the soul

Home ▷ Selected Poems ▷ Help Yourself to Happiness

Help Yourself to Happiness

by Helen Steiner Rice

be happyEverybody, everywhere
seeks happiness, it’s true,
But finding it and keeping it
seem difficult to do.

Difficult because we think
that happiness is found
Only in the places
where wealth and fame abound.

And so we go on searching
in palaces of pleasure
Seeking recognition
and monetary treasure,

Unaware that happiness
is just a state of mind
Within the reach of everyone
who takes time to be kind.

For in making others happy
we will be happy, too.
For the happiness you give away
returns to shine on you.

Copyright © Helen Steiner Rice.
“Source” mandala designed by Caroline Hofstede.

You might also like

Apple Harvest Sonnet

Choosing To Be Happy

Making Lemonade

Ten Tips for a Happier Life

Filed under happiness.

  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

The Poetry Pages

My Poems
Guest Poets
Selected Poems
Classic Poets
Classic Love Poems
Zen Poetry, Haiku, and Wisdom

Featured Poem

Autumn

by Josiah Conder

There is, I think no sunshine like the sky of those mild, breezy, cloudless autumn days which tempt once more abroad the butterfly to search for lingering flowers; when the green sprays of ash, now ... Read more

Random Poems

fractured woman
be happy

Explore and Enjoy

aging anger autumn being female cancer children comfort & compassion death divorce empty nest family father flowers & gardens friends & friendship grief & sadness happiness hope & optimism illness inner peace inspiring life & living loneliness love love lost loving yourself mandala marriage mindful living mother motherhood music Native American nature people places poetry & writing positive attitude quotes relationships sex & sexuality simplicity solitude spirit spring winter

Looking for a specific poet or author?

Inspiration for the Spirit EST 2002 • Copyright © 2026 Patricia Petro • LOGIN

»
«