A bit of both, I think....

Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy in any circumstances, or choose to be unhappy. I always try to remember life could be so much worse.

When I was overseas doing a dangerous job (at the age of 19 to 21) which scared the hell out of me, I learned Zen meditation from an old monk. (BTW Zen is non-theist.) That helped me calm down and quit using drugs to stay functional. Years later, I had an "enlightening" experience that introduced me to genuine inner happiness. It's a way of shutting out the outside world, and sorta "holing up" in an inner shell. It doesn't make the bad monsters of the world disappear, but it does give you a period of inner peace for a while. So, I like to think I have "Happiness in a Box" for use whenever it is needed. It lets me rest and restore, and gives me time to think in relative peace and quiet.

Maybe a little of both..

We cannot always choose the stimuli around us, but we can train ourselves to choose how to react to it. I guess I'm saying, we can choose to be happy, but it's not always easy.

I think happiness requires a baseline of external condition — e.g., not suffering — but beyond that, I think it's mostly innate. I'll dig up a TED Talk I really like on happiness and post it here.

I think happiness comes from within but that's not to say that external or environmental factors don't/can't contribute to your happiness.

within!

Is happiness an internal concept.
In other words, my perspective and outlook on life determines how happy I am.

Happiness is a social construct the true definition is temporary absence of pain.

Happiness or the better term Joy comes from within. No matter the circumstances you are thankful. Like when I noticed, I have a flat tire while my car was parked in the driveway. I'm thankful that I was safe and didn't have to change the tire in the middle of the night out in the middle of nowhere.

Whereas, If circumstances and events affect your happiness, it will always be a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows in your life. It is like things will always happen, there will always be something... you can't control it, but you can control how you react to it and therefore you have the narrative of how your day went.

Most of Happiness comes within, according to a study done at the University of Toronto, in which I sense in agreement.

About 60percent of Happiness is personal choices
About 30percent in inherited from your parents and family.
About 10percent is situation

For a healthy brain, it essentially is a choice. So long as your dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels are doing well the ability to feel happy is mainly a matter of perspective. And a person can also choose to engage in activities that assist in boosting the transmission of these "happy chemicals". But some brains are out of "balance", and no matter what you "choose", happiness just isn't possible without medical help. And even WITH medical help, it can be difficult, as the exact causes of clinical depression are still being studied.

Much like diabetes, there are multiple ways functionality can go wrong. Type I diabetics simply don't produce enough insulin, but Type II diabetics have cells that are resistant to insulin uptake. We have medications that can help correct serotonin and dopamine levels, but until we know more getting the correct medication is largely trial and error.

Better be because never found happiness lounging outside of me and never last but is very enjoyable!!!!

Another of those broad spectrum questions that can only be answered by the individual to their personal experience. I rarely feel down or sad or lonely. So rarely that it could almost be considered to be never. I don't need external input to make me happy, but when input is there it does boost the level a bit.

Both

I definitely think it comes from within. You need to overcome those external circumstances like illness and financial loss-by accepting deep inside your situation and moving forward as best you can.

I would say so. Life can be complicated, but I think it is up to the person to decide if they will let that define them and be able to see the good and happiness in life. I hope that came out right.

I'm happy keeping to myself. I don't need to be surrounded by people to be happy.

Happiness is both internally an externally generated. It's never completely in your control but you can always do your best to be positive. Then again happiness is a perspective some people enjoy feeling bad in a way and the best way to feel bad is to do nothing because nothing will happen to you.

It's a combination of things. It comes from our attitude, perspective, experiences combined with how and who we are that makes us unique. In a sense, that determines our happiness be it from external or internal reactions that makes us feel the way we do.

In the form of endorphins or if your into pain in dopeamine.

definitely up to us to feel happy. there are people who are hardwired to feel happy and those who are not. I'm lucky

I agree with HippieChick , that happiness is a choice. Actually, I believe how we react at any given time is a choice.

If you decide to not move towards drama, it's possible to remain calm in the craziest of situations. It's also possible to remain upbeat in the most horrible situations.

All that said however, we are humans, and we each may have certain "buttons", or vulnerabilities that can be triggered by a particular person, place, or experience. In time, those fortunate enough, learn what those are, and actively avoid such things !

A little of both I think.
If happiness only came from within people might think you're schizophrenic.

If only externally, you could be considered a selfish asshole. lol

YES......I live my life to that rule! Happiness comes from within!!!!! Very important part is how do you talk to yourself!