My happiness is not dictated on this business. Once I realized

“My happiness is not dictated on this business. Once I realized that, everything kind of changed.” Thus spoke Selena Gomez, not as a singer of songs, but as a seeker of truth. Her words, simple yet profound, echo the wisdom of the ancients: that the soul’s peace must never be enslaved by circumstance, nor its joy be dictated by the fleeting applause of the world. In her realization, she uncovered an eternal law of the spirit—that true happiness is born not from outward gain, but from inward freedom.

From the dawn of time, humankind has wrestled with the illusion that joy resides in possessions, titles, or acclaim. Yet every wise teacher, every poet of the soul, has spoken against this mirage. Selena Gomez, a child of the modern age, stands within the storm of fame, where the eyes of millions gaze and the noise of judgment never ceases. In that tempest, she found her truth: happiness, if tied to success, will perish when success fades. But if rooted in the quiet soil of self-acceptance, it will endure through all seasons. Her awakening is not unlike that of a monk renouncing gold—not a rejection of the world, but a liberation from its chains.

Consider the tale of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor of Rome. Surrounded by luxury, hailed by legions, burdened by empire, he too discovered that neither power nor praise could soothe the soul. In his Meditations, he wrote, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” In those words, the echo of Selena’s truth resounds through the ages. The emperor and the artist, though separated by centuries, both came to see that freedom of the heart begins when one ceases to measure joy by external standards.

This quote, then, speaks to a sacred transformation—a shift of sovereignty. Before such awakening, the soul is like a leaf tossed by wind, rising with praise and falling with scorn. But once a person understands that their happiness is not dictated by fortune, fame, or the will of others, they become like a mountain: steady, silent, and strong. They cease to perform for the crowd, and begin instead to live in harmony with their own truth. That is the moment of change—when the power once given to the world is reclaimed by the self.

Many have lived their lives chasing approval, believing that validation is the same as love. Yet love that must be earned is no love at all—it is a shadow, vanishing when the light shifts. The ancients knew that the greatest victory is mastery of the self. When one no longer depends on circumstance for contentment, they become unshakable. Whether clothed in wealth or wrapped in simplicity, their spirit remains radiant, because they have built their joy upon a foundation no wind can erode.

The lesson, dear listener, is clear: your worth is not written by others, nor defined by the world’s applause. If you tie your joy to the uncertain tides of fortune, you will rise and fall endlessly. But if you anchor it in your heart—in gratitude, integrity, and peace—then no loss can unmake it. Begin each day by asking, “What gives me life beyond reward?” Cultivate what feeds your soul, not what feeds your image. In that quiet devotion, you will find the same transformation Selena spoke of: “everything kind of changed.”

To live this truth, practice detachment—not from love or purpose, but from dependence on outcomes. Create with sincerity, work with excellence, give with kindness—but do not let success or failure decide your peace. When praise comes, accept it with humility; when criticism arrives, meet it with understanding. Like a tree rooted deep, you will remain unbroken by the passing storms, nourished by something the world cannot take away.

Thus, remember: happiness is a sacred flame, and only you are its keeper. Do not hand the torch to the world, for the world will not guard it well. Tend it yourself, quietly, faithfully, until its light fills every corner of your being. Then, like Selena, you too shall say—not in pride, but in freedom—“My happiness is not dictated on this business.” And from that moment on, your life, too, will be changed forever.