Happiness is something everyone wants to have. You may be successful and have a lot of money, but without happiness it will be meaningless.
That’s why I’m excited with this month’s theme of Happiness. We will discuss this topic all month long and I’m sure we will learn a lot. But, before we move further, it’s a good idea to get deeper understanding of the word happiness itself. Understanding what happiness is will give us good ground upon which to build our discussions.
Let me start with an official definition. According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, here is the definition of happiness:
- a state of well-being and contentment
- a pleasurable or satisfying experience
This definition is a good starting point and we can dig deeper from it. The best way to do that is to consult some of the greatest minds in history. So I researched what these people say about happiness and found 10 essential definitions. Each of them has deep meaning. Take your time to absorb it.
Here they are:
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values.
Ayn Rand
Happiness is something that you are and it comes from the way you think.
Wayne Dyer
Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartedly, one-directionally, without regret or reservation.
William H. Sheldon
Happiness is not a reward - it is a consequence.
Robert Ingersoll
Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.
George Sheehan
Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
Aristotle
Happiness is not something you experience, it’s something you remember.
Oscar Levant
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
Margaret Lee Runbeck
Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
Denis Waitley
All in all, I would say that happiness is a decision. Your happiness is your decision to make. All the quotes above require actions on our part and actions require decisions.
So what do you think?
What is happiness?
This article is part of July 2008 theme: Happiness
Comment by Steve
19 17. October 2008, 4:04 pm o'clock |
I am thinking on this subject right now, my definition of happiness for now is: being satisfying with whom you are(self), what you have(belinging and environment) and what you are doing(self’s reaction to the envrionment). We can be unhappy anytime if we are not doing something we feel good doing, so keep on doing the right thing is the key.
Comment by pearl
18 30. July 2008, 10:54 pm o'clock |
whatever you do is just to find happiness.
Comment by Donald Latumahina
17 10. July 2008, 9:13 am o'clock |
Info-web,
Interesting thoughts. I agree, the search for happiness is a motive behind our actions.
Frode,
I love your post on true motivation.
This is an important key to living a fulfilling life and therefore be happy. The money will come by itself when we provide superior value to others.
Comment by Frode H.
16 10. July 2008, 6:45 am o'clock |
Great theme. I really like this theme, also when it comes down to keeping co-workers happy.
I am so lucky that money is no object in my current job. So I work for other reasons. And when it comes down to happines I found out that adding value to myself and other is very important. After working at my company for two years, not for the money but for the challenge and fun I wrote this article that is the secret to why I am happy at work. (http://properpants.blogspot.com/2008/06/true-motivation.html)
At home I am deeply greatful to my wife and kids that makes me happy everyday :)
Comment by Info-web
15 8. July 2008, 8:51 am o'clock |
Hi Donald,
You are right “difference between one person to another is the horizon of happiness they seek”, what I want to say is even this short-term or long-term isn’t actually happiness but ‘happiness at a glance’, a glimpse of happiness which is temporary, even if the achievement which is the reason behind this happiness is permanent. This happiness will cease, as after some time he will find happiness at a new destination.
I feel that whether its short term happiness or long term happiness, whether a person is good or bad, whether he is a criminal or a politician. Everybody has his own priority and things to do, which are decided by the society as good or bad.
Now, here I feel that the underlying current, a deep rooted motive behind all these actions by these so called good and bad people is actually a search for happiness. Whatever they do, is just there way of reaching that destination. Just like water which flows through all the way to ocean, whether its drinking water or dirty water if it is poured on floor or soil it will automatically take that path.
Hope you won’t mind, but that’s what I feel.
Comment by Donald Latumahina
14 8. July 2008, 5:49 am o'clock |
Info-web,
Your definition reminds me of Aristotle’s definition:
As you said, it may be subconscious but happiness is our motive. Perhaps the difference between one person to another is the horizon of happiness they seek. Some people seek long-term happiness while some other just seek short-term “happiness” (short-term pleasure, actually).
Comment by Info-web
13 7. July 2008, 4:55 am o'clock |
Well written thoughts on happiness, 10 definition of happiness are also good choice.
I think happiness is a secret motive of every human being, a motive which is subconscious, we aren’t ourselves aware of its existence. What ever we do, we want to do it right, be successful in it because it gives happiness to us.
We go to school, find a job, love and get married for fun and satisfaction which to give a sense of achievement and a reason to be happy.
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