What is happiness and how can we achieve It

The pursuit of happiness

Happiness undoubtedly is humanity’s ultimate goal. Our desire to be happy influences our everyday actions.

We study hard to get better results so that we can be happy with the outcome. We meet people to increase our happiness level. Sometimes we avoid meeting some people to stop our happiness from dropping. Our activities, such as travelling, shopping and pursuing wealth, are all driven by our desire to achieve happiness or simply to sustain it.

Pursuing happiness is probably the only thing we all humans have in common. We have been searching for it since the beginning of our awareness.

In the Palaeolithic period, our happiness was finding an excellent food source and a safe shelter. As our civilization advanced, our strive towards finding happiness continued.

Today, we can travel the world within a day, get our cooked food delivered to our doorsteps, and our houses keep us safe and warm. Yet, we are yet to find long-lasting happiness.

The modern world continuously tells us that getting worldly possessions will bring us happiness. And we buy it. We think that the next thing we get will bring us closer to our goal of ultimate happiness. We believe that the more we have, the happier we will be, which has, unfortunately, made us greedy and selfish.

However, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t seek happiness. Happiness plays a vital role in our survival. As stated earlier, almost all of our decisions are based on the level of happiness we expect to receive in return. It was the pursuit of happiness that made us philosophers and inventors, astronauts and engineers.

We are not attempting to replace happiness. Happiness is essential for our survival. However, we are searching for a sustainable source.

We work hard to achieve a short burst of happiness. Once the level of this happiness drops, or vanishes, we set another goal, for another short feeling of happiness.

Our approach hasn’t changed despite being aware that the happiness we are seeking isn’t in a permanent state.

Is there a way to achieve sustainable happiness?

According to Socrates,

Happiness flows not from physical or external conditions, such as bodily pleasures or wealth and power, but from living a life that’s right for your soul, your deepest good”

Buddha implied,

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way”

And Henry David Thoreau beautifully says,

“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder”

All of these imply that happiness cannot be earned, bought or acquired in any way. Happiness is a feeling that comes from within.

All of these imply that happiness cannot be earned, bought or acquired in any way. Happiness is a feeling that comes from within. Here are some practical tips for cultivating everyday happiness.

1. Cultivate Gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can increase our level of happiness and well-being.  We can increase our happiness by spending a moment each day reflecting on what we are grateful for.
2. Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the present moment. Practising mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety and increase our happiness and well-being.
3.  Build Positive Relationships: Social connections are essential for our happiness and well-being.  If we start cultivating positive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, we‘ll find that our happiness levels will increase.
4. 4. Pursue Meaningful Goals: Pursuing meaningful goals that align with our values and beliefs can give us a sense of purpose and fulfilment, which can increase our level of happiness.