I find the buddhist idea that life is in fact suffering far more useful - but that isn't as morbid as it sounds. If you believed that life was always meant to be happy (which i think is an easy trap to fall in to) then you would just reject the times when it's not (and inevitably it just isn't sometimes), and that just makes you unhappier! oh no!
 

Saw your homepage on urban, heres my penny:

People always say that they will be happy once they have achieved something; "I'll be happy when I get the new telly" or "I'll be happy when I get a bit more money" Truth is, people spend so much time chasing happiness that they don't notice the potential to have it there and then. It's possible to be happy just by thinking about it. You're a healthy person, living in a rich country with running water, free health, plenty of food.

People are sad because they think how much better life could be.
People are happy because they think how much worse life could be.