Purim is on its way, and children are singing the famous tune, "When the month of Adar begins we should increase our joy." It is sung with enthusiasm in virtually every kindergarten or school. In the yeshiva world it is sung right after the end of the prayer marking the new Hebrew month. These young students are adhering to the song's message in the truest sense, wasting no time before they start rejoicing. Indeed, it is imperative to ratchet up the level of happiness as soon as possible, and to do so in a big way. Even in the rest of the Western world this time of year is marked by increased happiness. February, which for the most part coincides with Adar, is a month of celebration in many Christian countries. Carnival, as this period is called, is derived from the Latin words that describe the removal of meat, and involves merrymaking, feasts and mask festivals. This is very much like what Jews do in Purim, but for completely different reasons. The celebrations usually take place just before the advent of Lent. During Lent, the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, Catholics must engage in fasting and avoid certain luxuries and the consumption of meat. This is supposed to make them identify with the suffering of Jesus prior to his crucifixion. The pre-Lent carnivals were particularly common in medieval Europe and in following centuries, but even today there are some vestiges of that tradition. Tens of thousands of people descend on Brazil for its annual pre-Lent carnival several weeks before Easter. There is also Venice's famous mask festival, the French Mardi Gras and a similar event in Bavaria. All those events include parades with costumes, masks, large feasts and hedonism. Does this sound familiar? Of course. Because in Purim we also eat and drink a lot, have parades and dress in costumes. This is practically identical to what the Christians do. The events may have some things in common, but the meaning behind each one makes all the difference. When we begin to rejoice at the start of Adar, two weeks before Purim, we set the whole process in motion, culminating with a celebration over having been saved from annihilation. Once again we remember a miracle in which the Jewish people turned the tables and emerged victorious. We face an existential threat from the same country today as we did in the Purim story ancient Persia is todays Iran and it is important to reflect more deeply on why we are going to celebrate and try to find a more subtle meaning to the joy. Even when you think you have reached a dead end and feel you are in dire straits, you can still flash a modest smile, maybe even a witty one, to counter hopelessness and desperation. It is precisely this small step, this small instance of supposedly unwarranted happiness, that could actually provide reassurances and help people see clearly. When we smile and find a small reason to be happy, it is easier to be content. This is the secret recipe: You start early, you identify the problem and you brace for it using optimism and guarded celebration. And when time comes to contend with the problem, you emerge successful and victorious. That is the greatest happiness there is.