Paula Patton is searching for happiness

Paula Patton admits she faces a constant struggle to find happiness.

The 40-year-old actress has revealed she is actively seeking more joy in her life, but thinks growing older has helped her to feel at ease.

The Hollywood beauty, whose ten-year marriage to musician Robin Thicke ended last year, shared: "I want more joy. I want more happiness. I have a beautiful son [Julian Thicke, six]. I’ve been lucky to do what I’ve done and to focus on anything else is such a waste.

"It’s a discipline because, trust me, we all go there. What I’m striving for is to have more joy, play, have fun with this life. Growing older is a good thing in that way, right? Keep on trucking. You have to find the place where it gets comfortable and easier."

Paula, whose divorce played out in front of the watching world, also claimed she tries to not waste any of her energy worrying about what other people think of her.

She explained to People: "I don’t think you can control that.

"You just keep living your life and have faith that everything sorts itself out. Be patient, I’m learning that later in life it’s like, ‘All in due time,’ and the real goal is to find joy in the right now.

"Focusing on what I have right now is really good and not be concerned with things I can’t control: How other people see me, what they say, it’s wasted energy for me and it’s never done me any good."

The ‘Hitch’ actress first met her ex-husband when she was just 16 years old in 1991.

They began dating two years later, before they tied the knot in 2005. However, in 2014, she filed for divorce and for joint custody of their son.