To begin with, it is important to understand that we all have a deep desire for happiness; it is part of our nature to pursue happiness. Matthieu Ricard cites Pascal: “Even the one who hangs himself is looking for a cessation of suffering.” This simple sentence holds a great amount of significance. It proves how our state of mind affects our pursuit of happiness. Depending on your state of mind, different ways of reaching a certain level of happiness will be taken. So, what effect do different states of mind have on happiness?