What is Happiness? Is it a way of life, is it an emotion or is it a state of mind? Or is happiness an illusion, a mirage chased by people for its own sake? Or is it the opposite of sadness?
Happiness is an emotion associated with multiple feelings such as contentment and satisfaction. Bliss and intense joy are other emotions associated with happiness. In trying to understand happiness there could be a variety of biological, philosophical or religious approaches.
Parenthood and seeing your child for the first time is an example of the biological state of happiness. It’s a feeling which can not be described, only experienced. Marriage could be considered happiness in a psychological state.
Mohandas K. Gandhi:
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
According to Aristotle, “happiness is the only emotion that humans desire for its own sake”. This would lend one to believe that for Aristotle, happiness was something pure, bereft of any adulteration. He further clarified that men sought riches, honor not for their own sake but to achieve happiness and lead a good life.
Happiness is an emotion associated with multiple feelings such as contentment and satisfaction. Bliss and intense joy are other emotions associated with happiness. In trying to understand happiness there could be a variety of biological, philosophical or religious approaches.
Parenthood and seeing your child for the first time is an example of the biological state of happiness. It’s a feeling which can not be described, only experienced. Marriage could be considered happiness in a psychological state.
Mohandas K. Gandhi:
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
According to Aristotle, “happiness is the only emotion that humans desire for its own sake”. This would lend one to believe that for Aristotle, happiness was something pure, bereft of any adulteration. He further clarified that men sought riches, honor not for their own sake but to achieve happiness and lead a good life.
If that is so, did achieving riches bring joy or happiness? Are they one and the same?
Many Philosophers have defined happiness as living a good or virtuous life.
According to Buddhist teachings, Happiness focuses on obtaining freedom from suffering by following the Eightfold Path. In the Buddhist view, ultimate happiness is only achieved by overcoming craving in all forms.
Is overcoming craving a form of contentment?
Thomas Aquinas has described happiness as a “Beatific Vision of God's essence in the next life”. Happiness is the eternal reward for those who lead a virtuous life, as dictated by the scriptures in most religions.
Buddha:
Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.
I personally feel that the words of Anne Frank, a child of thirteen probably understood happiness in its most simplistic and pure forms. This is what she had to say:
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
Many Philosophers have defined happiness as living a good or virtuous life.
According to Buddhist teachings, Happiness focuses on obtaining freedom from suffering by following the Eightfold Path. In the Buddhist view, ultimate happiness is only achieved by overcoming craving in all forms.
Is overcoming craving a form of contentment?
Thomas Aquinas has described happiness as a “Beatific Vision of God's essence in the next life”. Happiness is the eternal reward for those who lead a virtuous life, as dictated by the scriptures in most religions.
Buddha:
Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.
I personally feel that the words of Anne Frank, a child of thirteen probably understood happiness in its most simplistic and pure forms. This is what she had to say:
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
12 comments:
Happiness can mean different things to different people. For example, for one person, it may mean being in a relationship, whereas for someone else it may mean feeling you have the ability to handle whatever life throws at you.
While we might think that there are certain things that make us happy (or could make you happy if you had them), research has shown that there are certain common traits amongst happy people - and it isn't necessarily what we might have thought.
Think that happy people have lots of money, are physically attractive, have great jobs, or own the latest gadgets. Or, you might just think happy people are plain lucky, and are born that way.
Research suggests, however, that there are a number of variables that make a far greater contribution to happiness than external and more superficial factors.
That doesn't mean that if we have a lot of money we won't be happy, or that having a lot of money is bad, it just means that other factors are more important in determining happiness. In fact, a strong positive relationship between job status/income/wealth and happiness only exists for those who live below the poverty line and/or who are unemployed.
What distinguishes happy people is that they have a different attitude - a different way of thinking about things and doing things. They interpret the world in a different way, and go about their lives in a different way.
This might seem obvious - why wouldn't you want to be happy?! But the implications are greater than you might think. Happier people are generally healthier people - not only mentally, but also physically. So you can see than happiness is actually something that is really important, that you might want to increase if you can.
It has been suggested that there are several factors that contribute towards our happiness. This is an 'equation for happiness' suggested by Martin Seligman, an American based psychologist:
H = S + C + V
H = Happiness
S = Set range - (genetics: about 50%)
C = Circumstances (8-15%)
V = Voluntary Control - (past, present, future)
This all looks very scientific, and is actually based on research findings, but can be explained quite simply:
Set Range/Genetics - There is some evidence to support that we are all born with a certain "set-point" of happiness, determined by our genes. This is supposed to change only slightly, if at all, as we get older. This contributes towards around 50% of our level of happiness.
So, if something dramatic happens, for example, you win the lottery, or break up with your boyfriend or girlfriend, within a year or so (depending on the situation) your happiness level will return to its set point.
Circumstances - There is also some evidence to suggest that the circumstance we live in influence our level of happiness. You don't always have a lot of control over your circumstances (for example, we can't all live in mansions and drive new cars). Evidence suggests, however, that this accounts for only around 8-15% of our happiness levels, which really isn't that much.
Voluntary Control - This third factor is the most important factor in the equation, because you can control it, and in the process control your happiness. It includes all aspects of your life over which you have a relatively high degree of control, including your thoughts and actions. This includes the way you choose to think about and act on the past, present, and future, and seems to have quite a significant impact on how happy you are - if you do the math, it could be up to 42%!
- Past - When thinking about the past, people who are happier pay attention to what is 'good' about the past, rather than focusing on the unhappy times. They are grateful, forgiving, and don't believe that the past will determine what happens in the future.
- Future - When it comes to thinking about the future, happy people are flexibly optimistic - what this means is that they are optimistic (in a realistic sense) about how their future is going to be, but if it doesn't turn out that way, they know it's not going to be the end of the world either.
- Present - The way you think about and act in the present is also essential in determining how happy you are. This might include things such as taking pleasure in life and your surroundings, building and being in meaningful relationships, and the way we react to things in life, good and bad.
For more information about the things you can control in your present which might help increase your happiness, check out the 'Tips for Increasing Your Happiness' fact sheet.
So, you can see from this equation that you do have some control over your happiness. Even though a certain proportion of your happiness is beyond your control, and is determined by genetics and by circumstances (which you can only control to a certain extent), you can increase you happiness level by focusing on those areas in your life that you can control.
You might choose to control your attitude, the way you choose to interpret situations, and the way you think about yourself. If you think about it, and the fact that it could be accountable for around 40% of your happiness, this could make a big difference in your life.
Happiness is something that means different things to different people, but overall it seems that it is the way we choose to think about ourselves, our place in the world, and the world around us, and how we act in that world, that differentiates the happy people from the less happy people.
This is something that you actually have voluntary control over, and that you can work on in your daily life. Not only that, but it can contribute to a large proportion of your happiness, as seen in the equation. It's up to you.
Hi Sunil,
Good Question, Happiness and Sadness always depend on expectations. As a human, we all have more expectations compared to actual needs and results.
Happiness is considered to heart and not to richness and physical appearance. When you hear the news which is needed or expected will give you happiness, irrespective that News may be not good for long run to us.
It always said that Happiness stays with us for sort time and Sadness stay with us for long time. So let us accept small targets in life which gives happiness.
In order to achieve big target, we all forget and not enjoy small achievements in life.
“It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.” - Dale Carnegie
Dear sunil,
“Happiness.Its not an emotion,not something you go searching for,not something you pursue,but an inbuilt mechanism by nature which we forget.I feel happiness could be discovered(if we have a mind to) or could say recovered from our own self from everything we do,feel,speak,touch,give and take,what not.”
Regards
Ganesh
Hi Sunil,
Well you are asking here a very interesting question, and as you have mentioned, human been asking himself the same question for as long as he was on earth.
So let me add my 2 cents worth to this discussion:
I believe that there is no “one size fits all” in happiness matter. What makes one happy may make other miserable, so it all boils down to what makes YOU happy as an individual, which is a very difficult question to answer, and this is why many people tend to take some “ready-made” answers for granted, like money, success, fame etc.
I believe the pursuit of happiness starts from a serious and unbiased discussion that each person must have with himself and decide through a thorough understanding of his own needs, aspirations, and values what is happiness for him, and then work toward it.
There is an Arabic poem, I am going to take the risk of translating it here, and that summarizes the above:
If you have a satisfied heart, then you and the owner of the earth are equals.
Hope this helps
Samer Karawi (G&K)
A really good article. It'll be helpful to add the significance of moderation and detachment in life as described in The Bhagavad Gita.
Moderation leads to less desires, by choice rather than by imposed cultural constraints. Moderation taken in true spirit means a balance between materialism and spiritualism (like harmony between SVC in the equation of happiness). Too much of attachment to either, does not serve the cause of happiness.
Happiness is a state of mind, look inwards to attain it.
You have raised a very important question.
The satisfaction in the answers lie certainly in how we perceive the meanings of these different words - joy, happiness , contentment etc.,
In the first place we need to distinguish the meanings that these words covey from the point of view of a worldly existance and an eternal life .
In repect of worldly existance , they are limited to getting a sensual pleasure. Acquiring a car for a middle class man gives him happiness , joy etc., For a rich person buying a car will not give that much happiness as it gives to a poor man. For the rich it would be some thing different that will give him happiness. Therefore in the worldly parlance it is limited to the mental status of the person.
But when we talk about happines in the eternal sense , it is completely different ! It is called BLISS ! The bliss comes from the satisfaction of the soul that it is freed from all these temporary happiness derived out of sesual pleasures. The soul knows that it will not last for long ; but the eternal bliss will. Because the soul will always want to merge with the supreme power by what ever name by which we call it .
This is what Bhddha said, that is what Hindu Scriptures say and that is what Biblical Christianity says !
Contentment (also called complacence) is the neuro-physiological experience of satisfaction and being at ease in one's situation.
Therefore it is again with reference to a wordly existance .
In spiritual terms, the desire for freeing the soul is described as a SPIRITUAL HUNGER for merging with GOD ! Therefore until it is appeased there will not be any contentment for the soul.
In fact, Bible defines JOY as a trial ! Meaning that when one undergoes trials and turbulances in life , it is to be revered as joy as it would finally lead to a happiness for the person.
As you rightly started stating in your question , in the normal life situation , it is in my opinion an illusion .... illusion of our body conciousness ! The opposite of it - i.e, sadness would follow this type of happiness soon as it is a cycle !
Bliss ( or ANANDA in sanskrit ) is the one we should strive for .
Thanks for the opportunity to share.
Rajeswaran Muthu Venkatachalam
I've come to believe happiness is more in the pursuit than the destination. If I am fortunate enough to be pursuing my passion (in an area of my competence), then I am more likely to be happy than if I'm not.
In reflecting on the times that I have been content in my work, play, relationships, etc., while certainly far from unhappy, I was not at my peak of happiness. However, whenever I was in the midst of a worthwhile struggle, when odds were stacked heavily against easy success, I may not have achieved contentment yet, but most days were full of happiness. Once that challenge was overcome successfully, I eventually felt a bit deflated not too long after the victory celebration. The joy of riches or honor seemed to be fleeting.
If Aristotle was referring to the seeking part more than the achieving part, them I'm with him. Besides, it is difficult to lead a good life when one is fat and happy resting on their keister.
Chris Bernal
The Joy of Living: Unlock the Secret and Science of Happiness
by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
I think this book has the answer in either Buddhist's view or a scientist's view.
Happiness is not an emotion. Emotion is the reflection in the body of an activity of the mind.
Illusion is difficult to define. Maybe one can say that what lasts, what has stability, is not an illusion.
Happiness is not mere contentment. Contentment is passive. Happiness is energising. It is perhaps the freedom of action, the opening up of the world or of worlds of possibility, by the removal of barriers set up by cravings, fears, anxieties, repitititve behaviour patterns and all the other things that the mind creates. Along with this is the acceptance of other people just as they are, and therefore freedom from destructive relationships and the resultant sapping of energy that results.
Happiness results from a paradigm shift and is the opposite of illusion.
That's my personal experience and view. Hope it resonates with you...
Acheiving a worthwhile goal brings happiness. But it is momentary and with time the acheivement does not look great and becomes part of the past. We always go after our goals and enjoy the happiness it brings and we move on. If there is no objective to persue life is dull and monotonous. Enjoy living, laugh a lot, help people come up in life, share your knowledge and wisdom. There is happiness everywhere and in every thing we do with passion.
Happiness is a choice that flows from enlightenment ... non-resistence, non-judgement, non-attachment.
All events can be viewed from a scarcity or abundance perceptive. Authentic Leaders come from abundance and view power as internal ... within themselves and their organizations. Victims focus on scarcity with a view of power as external ... something they need to acquire.
Links:
http://www.MasterofBusinessLeadership.com
Phil Johnson
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