What is the definition of happiness?

What are some of the areas where people generally look for happiness?

Happiness is a contented state of mind where a person feels inner peace, even in a state of difficulty or torture. A person may be happy to sacrifice himself under circumstances that make many other people unhappy, but it’s really a state of mind, every person strives for it regardless of background or position in life.

Drugs

People try to find happiness through drugs. They try to derive a feeling of contentment or pleasure through drugs, since pleasure is their definition of happiness. But the reality is people who take drugs end up miserable. It provides a temporary state of pleasure which does not last, and goes away quickly. Drugs requires funding – lots of money and leads to a lot of crime. Those people who have lot of money end up overdoing it because you can take only so much and it will overcome you. Regardless, drugs do not provide happiness.

Music

Also people try to find happiness through music. Music is a means of people being emotionally motivated. When you’re feeling low, you play your favorite song and it peps you up. But one can play his favorite song only so much. Eventually, we have to get on with our lives. You can’t stay in your room playing your favorite song over and over. So music doesn’t do it either. If music was truly the source of happiness, musicians would’ve been among the happiest people. But, what we find is that musicians themselves get involved in drugs and get into an overdose since they are unable to find happiness through music. So happiness isn’t in music, though it may seem to be at that time.

Sexual relations

Some people feel they can find happiness through sex. But, if that was the source of true happiness, then prostitutes would be the happiest people in the world. But again, we find that prostitutes are not the happiest people in the world. They are complaining that it’s not a happy life. So it’s not there either.

Material possessions

Others seek happiness through material possessions; say cars - Mercedes, Ferrari! But we hear of so many people with the most expensive cars killing themselves and committing suicide. You buy the biggest homes you can. Still, people with big homes, castles or palaces, don’t find happiness in them. Citing Princess Diana as an example; she lived in a castle, the ultimate home – did she find happiness there? No!

Children

People look for happiness in children. If they can’t personally achieve certain things, they hope to achieve it through their children. But children often at times put stress in people’s lives. You have to raise the kids and problems that come with raising the kids because you feel they haven’t done what they should’ve done. So happiness, we can’t truly find it there either.

Money/income

According to the media, money should be what can buy us happiness. What happened to the retired couple, who got a yacht and were circling around the world? Somalia pirates got them! That happy life got hijacked! Money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness.

Sports

Many people focus on emotions built up in sports. Their favorite team, cheering their team, all hyped up and the euphoria when the team wins. But no! The team doesn’t always win. There are times when the team loses. Then you’re feeling bad and crying. So it’s not in sports either.