Happiness is a human condition of mind and emotion that is characterized by feelings of pleasure or satisfaction. The ancient Greek philosophers identified happiness as the most important human good, greater than wealth, physical pleasure, and honor.
Happiness can be defined in many ways, but the most popular definition is “a mental or emotional state that provides positive experiences”. A feeling of pleasantness and satisfaction. Happiness is a state of mind that is not only important but also necessary for our well-being. It is the feeling of joy, contentment, and satisfaction.
There are many factors that contribute to happiness. Some of them are:
- Family and friends
- Health
- Money
- Career
- Education
- Social life
There are different types or factors that contribute to happiness. The two most important types are short-term and long-term happiness. Short-term happiness is typically higher than that of long-term and it may be a result of external influences such as wealth, relationships, and physical health. Whereas, long-term happiness may be more influenced by internal factors including self worth, autonomy, social support and the pursuit of meaning in life.
Work can also play an important role in our feelings of happiness on a day to day basis. For example people who work in jobs they find meaningful usually have higher levels of job satisfaction and they experience less burnout than those who don't like their job as much.
Happiness is a term that has been with us for centuries.
Socrates claimed that “true happiness is to have what you want”.
Philosopher Aristotle thought you can be happy by being virtuous, living in good conditions and associating with good people.
Some psychologists say happiness doesn't exist (just pleasant feelings), others say it's needed for all human activity, but the common notion is that it's a state of mind based on positive emotions and low levels of negative emotions.
Happiness is a universally desired state that influences an individual’s health, learning, and decision-making. Numerous researches have been conducted to find the definition of happiness; however, the answer is still not clear. It is important to understand what type of happy is desirable.
There are three types of happiness: pleasurable activities, contentment with life’s challenges, and the joy of finding meaning in life's hardships.
It can be concluded that those who experience all three types of happy will have a better life.
Happiness is a combination of emotional states and thoughts. We need to have positive emotions and thoughts to be happy. Early on, we learn the "fight or flight" response, which influences our choices throughout life.