A feeling? A state of being? Or both?
As I ponder on the concept of happiness, I type away my thoughts on a sunny Saturday afternoon, relaxed at a table of the pub downstairs. Feeling happy in the moment, and being happy in general.
Indeed, for me ‘I feel happy’ and ‘I am happy’ are different ‘happiness’. When I say the first, it carries a link to an emotion, a temporary sensation of a moment; with the second, I refer to a characteristic, a general status with lasting attributes.
This, of course, is my interpretation of ‘I feel’ versus ‘I am’. I certainly do not lay claims to having found THE answer of what happiness is, just one answer that satisfies me and, hopefully, others. After all, the definition of happiness has been a subject of meditations and philosophical debates for millennia, and I do not believe there is a unique definition. It is such a subtle and subjective concept, each individual will have their own approach to it.
To illustrate this, here are some of my friends’ replies when asked what ‘Happiness’ meant to them in one sentence.
(My two favourite quotes are from Anais and Anthony B.)
‘The state of mind in which I am fully aware or what I have or have access to.’ Estelle
‘A bubble bath and a martini…?’ Then more seriously ‘Simple things enjoyed fully.’ Emma
‘Feeling safe.’ Lisa
‘Happiness to me is bigger than love, bigger than hope and bigger than charity, for true happiness is the source from which all good and prosperity flows; it is the closest/nearest connection with the past, the future, the divine and our loved ones present and passed away.‘ Laurant
‘Being with my husband and son.’ Sue
‘Happiness is feeling that I am moving forward by doing exciting things.’ Katya
‘I think happiness is a choice, it’s a journey we take ourselves on: away from negativity and toxic energies, towards the glowing light of love and joy.’ Anais
‘Happiness for me is the knowledge that all life and the entire universe is connected by and has the potential to reveal its Buddhahood (courage, compassion, wisdom).’ Rowland
‘Happiness is spending time with someone you love.’ Melita
‘Happiness is the moment found when you are at peace with yourself, and smiling at the future challenges.’ Anthony B.
As I read them, it strikes me that the answers vary depending on happiness as a feeling – which appears incidental and connected to moments, actions or people – or happiness as a mindset.
As so, happiness is two-fold: it is the time you give to your joys and the occurrences of unexpected joys, and it is the state of mind of serenity and peace within yourself and with your place in this world.
Turning the analysis to myself, this is in line with what I experience. Despite fluctuating emotions and the ups and downs in life, deep in my core I am happy. Yes, even though sometimes I feel happier than others depending the circumstances of that precise moment, the passing and temporary emotions do not change my stable and constant happiness inside. I am very grateful to my parents for having taught me from an early age the importance of having a positive approach to life. Even if the difficult moment in my life, when I knew better than to be optimistic on the outcome of my situation, this positive mindset enabled me to embrace the changes and keep my spirits high. Every minute of my life, I feel fortunate and grateful for it.
To conclude, here is my definition of happiness: as a mindset, happiness is the inner-peace and awareness of your worth both as a unique being and as part of a whole, of the Universe; and as a feeling, happiness is the time given to your joys (by you or the randomness of life).
Now, once the happiness defined, how to reach it? Again, I can only give my personal experience on this: by working on turning your actions to focus on your joys and giving time to them, and by working on your mindset. It requires determination, discipline and dedication. It is hard work at first and you must keep practicing it, until it becomes a habit, natural, and the only natural path to be for you. So you may not always feel happy at the beginning, but you will be happy to do something so important for yourself, and you will not regret it!
Thank you for reading,
Yours, Virginie
P.S.: As a bonus, for reading all the way down this article, here is a video in which Mo Gawdat, a Google Executive, presents his analysis on Happiness.