I look at this whole emotional thing in a simple way...

Humans are quasi-logical beings which also have an emotional dimension to them.

We like to believe that we think in a logical fashion with regard to cognitive processing however in reality we are limited and therefore flawed in many areas.

Emotions are simply messages created in the hypothalamus in the form of peptides. Certain peptides are created depending on a persons perception of his/her environment.

This gives the individual feedback on how they are experiencing their current environment. For example, fear is an emotion just as happiness is. Therefore, when a person is experiencing a

situation he/she is enjoying, the brain produces peptides which compel the person to stay in this environment. On the other hand, when we experience fear we have a powerful urge to leave

the current situation/environment and find a more comfortable area. This would have helped our ancestors to survive in life threatening, or possibly life threatening, situations.

We are constantly receiving real-time feedback from our environment in the form of bio-chemical messages.

So, how I see it, find the situations/things that make you happy and avoid the bad situations/things. If you don't like your job then leave it as soon as you can. Why be unhappy for a buck?

If driving your car in the countryside with the top down makes you happy then do it. If something as free as a walk in the park makes you feel good then do it. I enjoy running...

It is true that possessing material objects is not the be-all-and-end-all of a happy life. It is how we use the things in our lives that put us in a good place/environment to enjoy life.

The only human emotional factor that gets in the way is greed... when someone feels that the mere possession of objects will make them happier then they will never be truly happy.

Being observant enough to make the best of what we have is the key to happiness. Sometimes the best things in life are free...

Growing weed is fun to me, I love to take care of my plants, including house plants and fish. I don't feel that owning an awesome LED light makes me happy, it makes my plants happy.

And they in turn make me happy

Technology is a means to an end, a small part of the bigger picture.