Einstein is quoted as saying the most important question a person can ask him/herself is "Is the universe friendly?"

Why is that?  Because the answer to that question determines, in part, the kind of universe you experience. 

Happiness has become a highly studied topic in the last decade or so, and overwhelming research now shows that
    1) people have a happiness "setpoint" that they tend to stay at, and 
    2) their setpoint is based about 50% on their cultural, genetic, and biological factors, and 50% on their beliefs about life.

Happiness, as it is normally defined is "state dependent," or rather dependent on external factors or circumstances. However, there IS an extreme form of happiness on the happiness continum that is happy from the inside out, or happy for no reason as author Marci Shimoff terms it.

Happy from the inside out people believe that the universe is friendly, even when it seems like it is not. They refuse to be victims when something unfortunate or unfair happens to them, believing instead that "Ultimately this is happening for my highest good, because there are no mistakes.  Let me look at the blessing or lesson in this."

In my own experience, looking back over my life I see that everything that has happened to me, including my many mistakes, were necessary in my growth as a person.  And usually I can look back and be grateful for the things I haven't gotten that I wanted or thought I needed. In fact, as I have learned to question my stressful beliefs through inquiry, I've been surprised to see that I am sometimes happier when I don't get my way! Not that I enjoy that in the moment...

When you believe that the universe is friendy and out to support you, you relax and stop resisting what IS. That doesn't mean you become a doormat; it simply means that you realize the futility of resisting what has already happened.  Many of us spend an incredible amount of energy being upset and resisting life. When you experience acceptance, that energy can be channeled into dealing effectively with the situation NOW.

Instead of trying to decide whether this principle is true or not, why not try adopting it for a week and see what happens? That means that whatever happens, assume the universe is somehow on your side, even if you can't see how yet.

Curious as to what your happiness setpoint is?  Take the Happy for No Reason Questionnaire  to find out!