What is Happiness?
What is Happiness?
"Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length" -Robert Frost (1874-1963).
"Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length" -Robert Frost (1874-1963).
The above quote means that although happiness is short-lived, it makes one feel good. The “heights” in the quote may be used to refer to the high level of joy one gets when they are happy, while the "length" of the quote may mean that happiness does not last forever.
I agree with the quote; happiness cannot last forever. Happiness is believed to be a state of feeling good. It is mainly a subjective phenomenon in which the final judge is the individual experiencing it. In this case, telling somebody else's happiness level is difficult.
It is often believed that happiness is not usually achieved but given by God or chance. Ed Diener's theory holds that happiness is subjective well-being and consists of three components: Infrequent negative affect, high life satisfaction, and frequent positive affect.
Given its subjective nature, happiness can only be measured through self-report. Consequently, this definition shows that happiness fluctuates.
Human feelings keep fluctuating, and happiness being among the feelings is not exceptional. The feelings that people experience are, in most cases, related to the activities in the brain.
Different factors have different levels of happiness that last for different periods. For example, a study by Layard1 showed that the happiness index during dinner is higher than when relaxing. However, the happiness during dinner lasts less than the happiness one experiences when relaxing.
What is happiness to you? Do you agree with the above quote? Do you derive more happiness enjoying your favorite meal (or drink) than when you’re relaxed?
Layard, Richard. "Happiness: Has Social Science a Clue? Lecture 1: What is Happiness? Are We Getting Happier?" (2003).
I disagree with the above quote mainly because it makes happiness seem like an intermittent feeling.
What happiness means to me is finding joy in the ordinary things of life- my morning cup of tea waa really nice, my dress has pockets. Its finding joy in spending time with my loved ones doing mundane things, and being fully present.
If we wait for grand moments that might not even come to feel happiness, then what is the whole purpose of being alive even?