Many people have difficult conditionings
That create the illusion of being happy.
For example, by putting other people down
One prevents oneself from always wearing a frown
So it’s just a distraction that can easily
Be seen through unless one tries to complicate things.

In the workplace and at home the drama plays out.
“The way that I’m going to trust myself and feel
Good about myself is if I can just denounce
Someone else upon whom I’ll get others to pounce.”
Some scapegoating is required to block out what’s real.
Happiness isn’t even worth thinking about.

Compassion is a weakness to those who believe
That you’ll just lose your power and burn yourself out
If you care about others but it’s never true.
Happiness is a measure of how much you do
For others. Of its value there can be no doubt.
It’s the best trick in the world to have up your sleeve.

We can redefine happiness so that it’s not
Just going after pleasure. We have a deep sense
Of connection to something much bigger than we
Can imagine. It’s easy to live happily
With compassion without any hint of pretense.
How you feel about others should matter a lot.