Americans, more often than not, struggle with happiness. We're in a constant race against ourselves to find it. We meditate and seek a transcendent experience the first time we try. We medicate, and flat line our emotions. We push for adventure on the outside, and forget to find fulfillment under our noses.
A wise man once said, "It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness."
That man was Viktor Frankl. A prominent Jewish psychiatrist, neurologist, and Nazi concentration camp survivor. In his bestselling book, Man's Search for Meaning, Frankl explains that the difference between those who survived and those who perished came down to one thing.
Finding meaning in the situation.
So, how do we do it? How do we find the meaning of life?

Be present.

Don't think about what happened yesterday or last year. No could've, would've or should've. Don't procrastinate on the present and wish upon the future. Be here, now.
Wherever you are in this moment, whatever challenge you may be dealing with, it was meant for you. Even if it's painful, It's part of your journey. It's what gives your life meaning.

Embrace the suck.

Frankl was a concentration camp prisoner. Stop and think about that for a minute. Even if you imagine your absolute worst situation ever, it doesn't come close to his.
Not. Even. Close
If he could embrace pain and find meaning in that situation. Then any of us can persevere through our battle of the day.

Realize your purpose.

There is nobody else in this world like you. Period. Nobody else can do what you do. You're irreplaceable, and life is expecting something remarkable from you. Something only you can give to the world. When you become aware of your responsibility, your purpose, your uniqueness. Then you will be able to persevere through almost any situation.
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way," wrote Frankl.
It's all up to you. Which direction will you choose?