Robert, your comment actually links nicely to Mahatma Gandhi’s happiness quote in this article: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

When you think about ice cream, and say you’d like some ice-cream, purchasing it actually makes you happy… This correlates with Gandhi’s definition.

So, at least moments of happiness can be purchased. Unfortunately all ingredients of happiness – like challenges and sense of a higher purpose – cannot. So, again referring to Gandhi’s definition, perhaps happiness needs to be achieved either by our actions (to change the current situation), or by mentally accepting it (to settle for what already is).

I don’t think happiness is the same thing for any two people, we are all different, so what makes one person happy may not make another happy. Of course there are some common themes that make us all content – job, family etc. But again, there are people who don’t have a family and are perfectly happy.

Ultimately, I think happiness is literally looking in the mirror and not pointing out flaws, but accepting what looks back at you. It’s waking up in the morning and thinking what have I got to do today, rather than I can’t be bothered, it’s all about accepting ourselves for who we are.

Great post by the way.

Happyness can be purchased if only for a single minute of time. People do it all the time and dont realize it. Tell me when you have some ice cream or a great meal are you not happy/content for a bit? If so you in fact just purchased some happiness.