There are, of course, many views on what happiness is, and everyone can define it in their own way, since it is a subjective idea that people interpret based on their experiences. We could adopt a broad perspective and define it as a state of wellbeing, joy and satisfaction in which the person feels that their life has meaning.
Happiness is a feeling in which our inner expectations are aligned with the reality that surrounds us.
It is love, the ability to feel complete, real connection with other people, positive energy, the fulfilment of our goals, the harmony between our inner world and the outer one, and so much more.
Etymologically, the word for happiness in Ancient Greek is made of “eu” (well) and “tyche” (fortune) and is understood as a state of wellbeing and of mind‑body satisfaction that comes from reaching certain goals [1]. The question that arises with this idea is whether everyone can agree on a single definition that captures it faithfully.
One reason this is difficult is that people feel happy in many different ways. One thing we might notice when we look at examples of this state of wellbeing is that they are often fleeting moments that a person experiences at different phases of their life.
Happiness is a state of fullness. When someone is happy, they feel that nothing is missing, that they have what they need and can enjoy life. This is not about material wealth—if it were, only the wealthy would feel happy. The fullness we mean has to do with having a life that is rich in quality, in a way that allows you to enjoy it with your whole being; and that enjoyment is also what makes it possible to realize that you are happy.
Today, many people also hold the view that happiness is something we find when we live in the present moment. What could that mean?
What is the difference between living in the moment and just living?
The difference is that when we say someone lives in the moment we mean that they experience the wonder of life with their full presence; their mind and spirit are not drifting into the past or into imagined future situations. Eckhart Tolle [2], in his teaching on the power of now, suggests that a person can find happiness only when they are fully present in each moment.
He believes that if we look carefully, life always consists of a single moment, and that this one moment is the only thing we cannot escape. No matter how much life changes, the only certainty is that we are always in the now.
He goes on to say that when we make peace with the present moment, we feel at home even when we are not; otherwise, anxiety takes over and we carry it with us.
He believes that dividing life into past, present and future is an illusion created by our mind. The only thing that exists is the now, because even the future, when it arrives, will be the now.
The problem arises when we feel that there is a future moment we must reach that is more important; he describes this as a dysfunctional way of living, because it creates a stream of worry, tension and dissatisfaction.
Going deeper, he suggests that most people confuse the now with what is happening in the now, which is not the same thing, because the now is deeper—it is the space in which things happen. When we enter the now we step out of the content of our mind; thoughts stop absorbing all our attention and we begin to realize how much vaster we are than our thoughts.
Happiness is balance in our life
Another perspective is that happiness is balance in our life. More specifically, people feel happy in many different ways, and when they value this feeling they become aware of how fleeting it can be, and their aim is to make it last.
It is possible to extend or even sustain the feeling of happiness if we realize that it does not depend on external factors but is simply reflected in them—and that it actually lies within us, waiting for the right moment to be experienced. We meet it both in great achievements and in the simplest things.
By finding a balance between our inner world and how it translates into the reality we live, we can extend the feeling of happiness and not lose it to habit, which can dull all those big moments we longed for and all those achievements we hoped to reach.
To do that, it helps not to forget the reasons that led us to have certain goals and desires, and to understand that life is a process of continuous growth.
[1] The definition is from the Wiktionary.
[2] 1948– – German‑Canadian author and teacher of spiritual inquiry. His work focuses on inner spiritual search and the awakening of consciousness.
To explore more about how we can shape our life and dare to choose change, read our articles Dream, Hope, Take Risks and Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Life.
Happy Life Team
