People are different, cultures are different, we experience different stages in life. But maybe all seek the same thing.
In this context, what is happiness?
It is a state of mind? It is a sum of material goods? It's a quick moment or a series of moments?
Happiness is as I quote here:
“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.’
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb
(and on RG we have many chances to help others>>happiness :))
From a biological point of view what Kamal says is literally true. When happy, every single cell experiences exactly the feelings we're having .
Now, from a cultural point of view, human beings are defined by their diversity, heterogeneity. Hence, happiness does consist of different things, experiences and relations in each culture - according to nature, the environment, the social relations, the inner consciousness, and the like. There is, therefore, not one singular form of happiness, but a manifold.
Now, from a developmental standpoint, happiness is experiences, defined and expressed in a variety of forms according to the age. A child's happiness is quite different from an adult's happiness.
From an optimistic point of view then wisdom consists in recognizing each mode and level, each expression and moment - of happiness.
Happiness is as I quote here:
“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.’
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb
(and on RG we have many chances to help others>>happiness :))
Being fully involved in your daily life activities, relationships and work, spending some time planning pleasurable, engaging and meaningful activities, helping, forgiving, being grateful where we can and using our personal strengths in the service of humankind are the key to happiness
Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
-Aristotle
Dear Dr. Alexandre Beluco , interesting issue.
For me, happiness is created by actions or objects that cause pleasure, rather than pain or disappointment. Happiness is not just about doing things selfishly for your own happiness, but rather creating an environment of positive emotions and situations for others.
“Create all the happiness you are able to create: remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you to add something to the pleasure of others, or to diminish something of their pains. And for every grain of enjoyment you sow in the bosom of another, you shall find a harvest in your own bosom; while every sorrow which you pluck out from the thoughts and feelings of a fellow creature shall be replaced by beautiful peace and joy in the sanctuary of your soul.”~ Jeremy Bentham.
Happiness when you see your children and grandchildren in the best case
God’s blessings come to us in three forms: pleasure, joy and happiness. Pleasure comes from satisfying our physical senses, joy comes from association with others but Happiness results from a fulfilling relationship with God who has provided enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed
Happiness is an emotional and mental state reflecting the same dimensional order of the society. We can’t live alone and though happiness reflects a personal and social cross-talk. It reflects a series of moments.
When a stress occurs in the social medium for long period then personal happiness is diluted/inactivated, disappears and becomes virtual (a memory). This is a major problem/issue of our modern society. The same happens at the cellular level with signal transduction. Stress inactivates many signal transduction pathways.
The society, more it becomes unsocial more it becomes virtual and though dangerous for human life. Without social and personal happiness, the world becomes obscure and depressed. We cannot feel happiness in a “depressed medium” and vice-versa. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and related drugs cannot replace social equilibrium but adjust temporarily the personal state of happiness.
PS. "Overall, 16.7 percent of 242 million U.S. adults reported filling one or more prescriptions for psychiatric drugs in 2013,” Journal of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Internal Medicine.
“My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations.”
----Michael J. Fox
"Happiness is holding someone in your arms and knowing you hold the whole world".
-Orhan Pamuk
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities."
-Aldous Huxley
Happiness is all about enjoying the journey while reaching destination. Happiness comes from tapping one’s own internal joy rather than relying on external events or depending on something to happen to bring happiness.
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