"Happiness is like a cat, If you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come. But if you pay not attention to it and go about your business, you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap"

The pursuit of happiness often becomes paradoxical; the more intensely an individual seeks it, the more elusive it appears. William Bennett’s analogy likens happiness to a cat, a creature known for unpredictability and independence. Just as a cat resists being beckoned or chased, happiness tends to slip away from those who constantly focus on finding it or make it their sole objective. The act of coaxing, of fixating attention on happiness, frequently leads to frustration and disappointment, as the desired state remains just out of reach.

Much like the behavior of a contented cat, happiness comes when least expected, arising naturally as a byproduct of living a meaningful and engaged life. When people divert their focus from their longing for happiness and instead become absorbed in daily activities, responsibilities, or pursuits of passion, they cultivate fertile ground for genuine fulfillment. In going about one’s business, be that building relationships, engaging in creative endeavors, or contributing to the community, a person inadvertently opens themselves to moments of joy and satisfaction.

This perspective challenges the common cultural narrative that happiness is a destination, something to be chased after and attained directly. Instead, it encourages an approach centered on living authentically and purposefully without the pressure of constant self-evaluation about personal happiness levels. By shifting attention away from transient emotions and toward purposeful action, individuals rediscover happiness as an unexpected companion rather than a hard-won prize. It arrives quietly, perhaps unnoticed at first, until it becomes a comforting presence in the midst of daily life, much as a cat curls up without warning beside someone occupied with their work. Ultimately, happiness flourishes not under the spotlight of desperate pursuit but in the understated moments born of engagement, presence, and acceptance.