The truth is, there are as many definitions of happiness as there are stars in the night sky, because happiness looks different for each of us. But here is something we all share in common: If we’re not happy, life is unsettling and unsatisfying.
You can get happiness in two ways, the hedonistic /self happiness and the eudaimonic /self-actualization.
With hedonistic, we strive for pleasure and avoid pain. This is about satisfying our appetites and desires.
While eudaimonic approach means that we should live genuinely and for the greater good and should get it through kindness, justice, honesty and courage.
Modern conceptions of happiness are leading focus is in the wrong place. Materialism, social popularity and being in lime light are the main milestones to be considered happy and satisfied with life. In traditional societies, happiness came about because people were tied to something outside themselves. Family, fellows, group actions performed and duties carried out were the bases of happiness.
The way we respond to the circumstances has more influence on happiness than the event itself.
Every human inherits and lives a story of culture written by predecessors but loneliness, isolation, and alienation are antithetical to happiness.
Unlike feeling happy, which is a transient state, leading a happier life is about individual growth through finding meaning. It is about accepting our humanity with all its ups and downs, enjoying the positive emotions, and harnessing painful feelings in order to reach our full potential.
To my experience, self actualization is a social act, leading to a happy society, making it happy for everyone.
