Marty, I just wrote you a long response to your questions and Medium hiccuped in the middle of it and it all disappeared!! bottom line- We get what we focus on. Going within is natural. If we knew how to do it, we would. Most people don't know-how, so there is misery. Effort is attention. If you want to learn how to play the guitar what do you need? Same applies to going within. Joy is not a mental effort thing, it's a result of connecting to the source of joy. We are within ourselves all the time, we're just looking outside. It is natural to go within, but where and how? Some people can do it more easily, look at Ekhart Tolle's story. Thirst? If you want anything, what do you have to do? Who can be a teacher? Who can guide you to secret spot on a tall mountain? Someone who has been there before. Your last question on happiness, etc. They are all that you say, and available to us, yes. But are we available to them?