Are You Happy?

Many things come into our minds when we think about happiness. It's even difficult to find one answer to what it is and what it takes to be happy.

From philosophers, psychologists, scientists, and Religious leaders to ordinary people define happiness in different ways but share some common components on the how of happiness.

Dalai Lama in his book The Art of Happiness suggests that; Conversation, stories, and meditations have the power to overcome each day's anxiety, insecurities, anger, and discouragement.

The pursuit of happiness nowadays is overshadowed by day-to-day challenges such as the pursuit of wealth, relationships, and loss. Cultivating inner peace is the cornerstone of happiness. Study shows that happiness can't be determined by one factor. It is rather an outcome of many factors. 

Happiness can be in aspects of four domains:

1. physical domain: pain, discomfort, energy, fatigue, sleep, rest;
2. psychological domain: feelings, appearance self-esteem, memory, and concentration; 
3.  social relations domain: social relations, social support, sexual activity; and
4.  environment domain: safety, home environment, finances, leisure, transport, social care.

Happiness can be temporary, made of single joyful moments, when personal goals are achieved depending on personal qualities and character. Love, Healthy Lifestyle, Contentment, Hope, and Trust are elements of happiness. The experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.

Philosophically, happiness depends on:

•  A state of mind.

• A life that goes well for the person leading it.

• The pleasure of the satisfying experience.

Benefits of happiness.

• Physical health, feelings of positivity, and fulfillment are seen to benefit cardiovascular health, the immune system, inflammation levels, and blood pressure among other things.

•  Happiness has been linked to a longer life span as well as a higher quality of well-being.

Happiness can be determined by:

• Genetic makeup, life circumstances, achievements, mental status, social relationships, way of thinking, and even your neighbors.

• Increase satisfaction in life by:

Regularly indulging in small pleasures, getting absorbed in challenging activities, setting and meeting goals, maintaining close social ties, and finding purpose beyond oneself.

Generally, the pursuit of happiness promotes well-being. Living in the moment gives purpose and meaning to life and it can be one among numerous reasons for happiness.

Most people are unable to experience happiness because it is linked with many factors such as the national average income, socio-cultural and economic background, and physical well-being as well as individual traits.

References

Rizzato, Matteo, Cinzia Di Dio, Laura Miraglia, Carlo Sam, Sharon D’Anzi, Michele Antonelli, and Davide Donelli. 2022. "Are You Happy? A Validation Study of a Tool Measuring Happiness" Behavioral Sciences 12, no. 8: 295. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12080295

Art Of Happiness By Dalai Lama

https://partnership-monitor.alerts.ztf.uw.edu/pdfCollection/trackid?dataid=nIO:9756&Edu=art_of_happiness_by_dalai_lama.pdf

Haybron, Dan, "Happiness", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2020/entries/happiness/