Definition Essay On Happiness

As Aristotle once said, “ Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence… Happiness depends on ourselves.” Although this is quite a candid remark, there is a lot more to it. The main question people ask subsequent to this is: “How can we achieve our happiness?” They expect a simple answer but the truth is, there is none. And that is because to answer this question, it requisites your opinion on what makes you happy. Happiness is different for you and different for me. What makes you happy may not be my criteria for happiness. It all depends on your perspective. Most people’s perspective is that more money can lead to prosperity, give us motivation, and a better standard of living (healthcare, education,

Four levels of happiness were listed that are incessantly changing: happiness from material objects, happiness from being admired by others, happiness from doing good and making the world a better place, and ultimate happiness by knowing your purpose in life. These apply to everyone, despite your income level. We feel sensual gratification when we buy a car or go on a nice trip and this kind of happiness is strong, but shallow and short lived nonetheless. There is nothing wrong with appreciating what you have, or treating yourself, as long as it doesn't become a routine or a need to feel better about yourself. This leads to the next level. Seeking validation from others is something prevalent in modern society; we go on social media and post for likes, trying to get as many as we can. If we get less than before, we start wondering what we did wrong. This can lead to frustration and and a feeling of worthlessness since we cannot always excel at comparisons with others. Not everyone will like us. When this happens, we either take it to heart or accept that no one is perfect, and start depending on other people’s happiness, trying to feel like the bigger person (level three). The fourth and final level can include happiness due to religious reasons, philosophical answers, etc. Based on the thought that generosity causes the most happiness and well-being, Michael Norton of Harvard Business School conducted an experiment in 2008 with Elizabeth Dunn and Laura Aknin. They gave $5 and $10 Starbucks gift cards to 46 participants of the experiment, giving the card recipients a few options: to spend the card on themselves, give the card to someone else, or use the card to take someone out for a coffee. Self-reported happiness levels were reported before and after the experiment. The happiest group spent the $10 on others while spending time with them. Later, The U.S. National Institute of health verified that