>the keys to happiness lie in mastering the mind, and not in changing external factors in our lives.

I'm sure not wondering where your next meal will come from or if your home will be leveled by ordiance today can help with that.

In the military I was in a variety of life threatening situations (both forward deployed and in garrison), and I was quite happy. The most interesting realization came when in water training, where there were times I honestly felt like I was in mortal danger. I was ok with it and still enjoyed life. Eh, maybe I'm a weird one though, I always found humor in it.

I'm not saying people can't find happiness in those situations (in fact civilians in those situations are often amazingly upbeat all things considered).

I just mean the bit about external factors almost implies external factors barely affect happiness is silly, external factors are also a large part of happiness.

I don't think they are saying external factors don't/can't affect happiness. I think they are saying that manipulating external factors is an inferior strategy for improving happiness.

So some people have to play the game on hard-mode. No reason to just give up. Find a way to make it happen and try to have some fun in the process.