Without strong affection, and humanity of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is mercy, and whose great attribute is benevolence to all things that breathe, true happiness can never be attained.

Contentment turns out to depend on things that face outward. Affection for people, ordinary kindness, some gratitude for what you did not earn: these are the components, and they all point away from yourself, which is why the pursuit of happiness aimed straight at happiness so reliably fails. What you get from the inward version is comfort at best. The rest requires other people in it.

If you have been working on your own wellbeing lately with limited results, try turning the effort outward for a fortnight. Attend to somebody, say thank you where it is owed, and see what happens to the mood you were trying to fix directly.