What is Happiness?

An emotion, a state of being happy. Don’t you just love when you look a word up and it either tells you to go see another word, or it answers your question with the same question. That does not make me “happy.” Happy, a feeling of contentment, a peaceful state of mind, a place of feeling pleasure. Happiness, many philosophers feel we are all searching for it, either consciously or unconscionably. We as humans are in a constant state of looking for happiness or avoiding unhappiness. Is that not life’s goal to be happy? Why are we here? I hypothesize we sure cannot help others if we are unhappy. It seems one of the reasons we walk this walk of life is to do exactly that, help or aid another human being to make their life happy. Happiness does have physiological, measurable properties. There has been measurable blood levels of endorphins, the bodies anti-depressant that is released when we give back, work out, and feel, well, “happy.” Sadly, many are misguide to what brings us happiness. Some feel it is materialistic items, the more toys the happier one is. Some feel that a peaceful relationship brings them happiness, yet others feel you cannot have happiness unless you have spiritual fullness. Native Americans believe that in order to be truly happy you need three of your traits to be equally balanced. Life is then a path we walk to balance these three, which are mind, body and spirit, or mind, body and heart. If one is too intellectual they are not happy, too histrionic and emotional they are not happy, and when one is not physically healthy they are clearly not happy. Happiness means many different things to many different people. Is there a commonality? Is there a right and wrong?

How does one obtain Happiness?

From this authors opinion, whenever I struggle to find happiness as an adult I reflect back to children, and my own childhood. The simplest times seem to be the happiest. There were times an empty box gave hours of pleasure, becoming mesmerized by clouds that morph in the sky. So why do we lose that spontaneous ability to find simple happiness? In “Utilitarianism” by, John Stuart Mills, he hypothesizes, man loses his intellectual tastes for happiness because one does not have or make the time for indulging themselves, or they addict themselves to inferior pleasures, not because they prefer them but they are the only ones available to them or the only ones they are capable of enjoying.” It could be that we have either lost the ability to find genuine happiness or never knew how to obtain it to begin with. To obtain happiness is to obtain a healthy sense of self. So what does that mean? If one is not pleased with their life path, their present situation, their goals, their peers, their relationship, then how will they find happiness?

Clearly happiness is defined in some form or fashion with our current situation in life and where we are at on our life’s path. So, to obtain happiness is a combination to avoid unhappiness and learn what makes us happy. A recent study showed that wanting what we have, brings many more contentment then wanting what they do not have. As in the movie Fight Club, ” The things you own will end up owning you.” Living life within a simple framework and recognizing that the new Lexus or for that matter any new vehicle, new clothes, new shoes, even a new home may bring about transient feelings of content, but it clearly does not last. Those that win the lottery have been studied under a microscope since the lottery has been introduced. It has not improved their level of intrinsic happiness. We live under a delusion that materialism defines us and our happiness. So, how do you obtain happiness? Find out who in the hell you are. Make changes accordingly. look at your priorities in life. What is truly important to you? Do you know who you are? Are you aware that your negative thoughts cause you to spin into a transient depression. Happiness is obtainable, but there must be some degree of inner transformation a self realization before that will happen on any consistent basis.

How does one rekindle happiness after life trauma?

Many of us have gone through periods where we were very content and happy. Then, when we least expect it, a life trauma of many sorts can bring us into a devastating depression. It is the unprepared avalanche of life, the punch to the belly with our guard down, and we are left many times unprepared, with little or no previous experience on how to get back to the place of fulfillment. Negative thoughts can cause us to stay stuck, mired in a depressive phase. Yes, it is important to grieve, in fact that is one of the first steps to get back to that state of pleasure. One must grieve, rely on peer support, do not go it alone, and understand it is not necessarily the trauma but how you approach the trauma that will get you back to happiness. Our thoughts, our ruminations take us down whatever path we so choose. Control our thoughts, we can control degrees of happiness.

There is not one way to happiness. It differs for many. All interventions are important to look at. As long as they are healthy alternatives and not destructive ones to our health or relationships then go for it. So how does one know the difference? Unhealthy mechanisms for happiness or usually transient, the shopping spree where you obtain the new vehicle, promiscuity, recreational drugs and the binge drinking are all transient illusions of finding happiness. They will not last, are usually damaging, and impede us from walking a healthy path.

What are some physiologic effects of Happiness?

Happiness clearly has a spill over effect. A British study in 2008 clearly showed that happiness has an exponential effect on communities and peer groups. The “pay it forward” effect is real. Happiness also releases endorphins that decrease pain, increase white blood cell counts, and lifts depressive symptoms. It is by no accident that oncology units play humorous movies, bring in clowns to children’s cancer units, and recognize the enormous benefit of making someone feel happy aids the healing process. The attitude in approaching illness is so important that many in the medical profession or finally recognizing it’s importance.

Happiness, it can be an elusive emotion, but it does not have to be. There must be recognition that it is obtainable in order to achieve the goal of grasping it. The journey to obtain happiness is just as important as the end result. For when you look back on how you achieved it, you can have solace knowing you can get there again. Ah yes, the journey, the walk. It is happening as you read this page. A journey can be change, you can chose a different path any time, you have the power to enlighten yourself and you only you can use your tools to make that journey happy. Remember the tools, remember the walk because when you least expect it you will need them again. They are yours and you can summon them whenever you so choose.

What are some quotes on happiness?

“A smile is a light in the window of the soul indicating that the heart is at home” Author unknown

“Accept that many thunderstorms must be walked through before sunshine surrounds us”  Dan Williams

“More than anything else, I believe it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny” Anthony Robbins

“The approach to happiness is the approach to our reflection in the mirror, more than what we perceive during the day.”  Dan Williams

“The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” Henry David Thoreau

” Love is knowing who you are before you give yourself to someone else.” Dan Williams

“Every minute of your life has the potential to change the life of someone else.” Dan Williams

“Your life is in your hands to make it what you choose” John Kehoe