Various Meanings of Happiness
There are various meanings of the term "happiness." The explanation for this is that happiness means different things to different people. Several people are generally after happiness. Some people, however, do not excel in their search for happiness. Others, on the other hand, seem to only catch a taste of satisfaction. Nonetheless, certain people are able to achieve peace. Nonetheless, each of these individuals is ignorant of the importance of pleasure. Whatever the definition of happiness is, almost everyone agrees that it is the most amazing feeling one can get, and people aspire to achieve it (Haybron 23).
Different Viewpoints on Happiness
Whereas the concept of happiness can be said to be pursued by everybody, everyone has their own definition of this term, based on their own viewpoints.
Contemporary Notions of Happiness
In the contemporary world, happiness is viewed in a wide range of ways. Every person describes their inner emotions and feelings in some manners that can hardly be compared with the descriptions provided by others (Van Hiel 1216). The most common definition that most people ascribe to happiness is an intense emotion and a state of exceptional well-being. In light of this definition, happiness denotes the inner state of well-being as well as a pleasant and fulfilling experience. In such a way, happiness is that which gives one the green light to derive contentment from your greatest feelings, success, thoughts, emotions, thinking, ambitions, spiritual values, intelligence and health in one's life. Despite the definition, what renders one happy and that which makes the other person happy are not necessarily the same things. This variation is what makes the world and life more interesting and captivating.
Daily Life Happiness
The first meaning of happiness is that which can normally take place in the daily lives of individuals. For example, happiness can be explained when a person tells ridiculous and funny things, as well as jokes, making others laugh after finding the jokes humorous. However, since this laugh condition only endures a moment, it is a temporary condition of happiness. The reason is that nobody would be deeply influenced into his or her emotions by mere jokes. In this sense, such an experience appears more like a comic relief.
Achievement-based Happiness
Another meaning of happiness can be seen when good things take place in an individual's life. For example, obtaining good grades in an examination or getting a promotion at work brings about happiness. This form of happiness is generally derived from personal achievements. The implication is that individuals would be happy after knowing that they successfully did something good. Such people do not necessarily require rewards to be happy. People who find joy in just living good lives demonstrate this definition of happiness.
Finding Happiness in Simple Things
Regularly, individuals may find happiness in very simple things. For this reason, happiness may denote being alone in nature. Additionally, it may mean playing a game with other people. However, a person may or may not display his or her feeling of happiness. At certain times, a person's happiness may only be a pleasant emotion, while at times a person may be amused indeed.
Wealth and Happiness
It is worth noting that material wealth is not a measure of happiness. A new television or car does not equate to happy feelings. Rather, they merely make others think or assume that an individual is happy. In light of this, these material things can be seen as status symbols. This claim supports the phrase that money cannot buy you happiness. The implication is that wealthy people can be unhappy, the same way poor people can be happy. The reason is that possessions can be acquired and lost, bringing about fear, that can hardly bring about happiness. For example, seeking success at the expense of every other thing may lead to a lack of happiness for a person. In this sense, life necessitates balance (Arjoon, Álvaro, and Bradley 845). Additionally, a happy life requires individuals who understand that there exist a balance to play and work, and in joy and trouble. People hence need to be more conversant with the world to be in better positions to attain happiness. Those who live their lives in humor tend to be happier than those who do not. It is for this reason that compared to any career, comedians tend to live the longest for the reason that they apprehend that laughter gives more pleasure to life. As a result, they make daily headway worth negligible tribulations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, being happy with what you have and who you are is fundamentally a choice that must be consciously made. Setting goals can greatly contribute to happiness. While finding happiness in life is vital, people have to make choices on happiness. They should admit they need it, merit it, and acquire it. Problems rather than solutions can preoccupy individuals. Overall, the final step to happiness is deciding to be happy since happiness is dependent on individual selves.
Works Cited
Arjoon, Surendra, Álvaro Turriago-Hoyos, and Bradley M. Braun. "Happiness: A Philosophical and Historical Perspective." Handbook of Virtue Ethics in Business and Management (2017): 827-834.
Haybron, Daniel M. Happiness: A very short introduction. Vol. 360. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Van Hiel, Alain, et al. "Defining the happiness gap." Science 348.6240 (2015): 1216-1216.
