This is one of those tricky Buddhist philosophical mind fucks. While it implies happiness is a destination it isn’t. Happiness is a process and therefore a choice. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice is ‘happiness under any circumstance’. That is to say no matter how high the shit is I choose to be happy. Lofty ideals rarely obtained, thereby making it a process.
Happiness coming to you is passive. Going towards happiness requires action.
I used to buy happiness. It came in the form of instant gratification with a side of buyer’s remorse. It never lasted. There was always something newer and shinier which seemed to steal my happiness until I could buy that. I think I made Apple their first billion dollars. And Canon. And another dozen or so brands.
It’s a paradigm shift in thinking which moved me away from happiness being something attained through possessions to it being a constant journey of overcoming struggle towards happiness.