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 !

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Maybe a little of both..

within!

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

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 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 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.

A bit of both, I think....