What is Happiness?

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu

When you hear the word ‘happiness’, different things may pop up in your mind. It may mean different things to different people. While some believe money brings happiness, others may associate happiness with a successful career. A child, on the other hand, would be most happy when he gets a chocolate. And so, happiness manifests in many forms. The world moves on in the search for happiness and satisfaction. Even though happiness means different to all, isn’t there a universality about it? Since everyone seeks happiness, shouldn’t there be a common formula for happiness?

What makes people happy?

When it comes to culture and happiness across the globe, what makes people happy in some cultures may surprise or even shock you. For example, in Chinese culture, funerals are a happy occasion and preparing for them can generate levels of enthusiasm. In this culture, people go to great lengths to prepare their funerals, choosing new clothes, matchup jewelry, meals to be served etc.

In the East poor people are more happy than the rich, possible because in those cultures happiness is closely associated with factors other than income and material possessions, unlike the West. In Japan, happiness is linked with good luck and social harmony. In America, personal achievement and freedom are strong factors.

Happiness has different connotations in different languages and cannot be directly translated. For example, in Mandarin, ‘happiness’ is also defined as having a good death!

In some cultures like the Chinese, happiness is not favoured as it is believed to bring misfortune if they do so.

For decades, many try to measure well being at a global level. Annually, the United Nations publishes a World Happiness Report which ranks all the countries based on happiness index. According to this report,Finland is the happiest country in the world.

A more broader perspective

There must be a simpler formula for happiness regardless of culture and language. First of all, we must be optimistic. Bringing about positivity can work wonders in your life. The key is simple: happiness comes from within. We shouldn’t allow external situations to alter our state of bliss.

Believe in the Divine and have faith in life. Having faith in an All Powerful makes us realize that all worldly things are negligible facts that influence happiness. This kind of happiness is not an excitement type, rather it brings a state of peace to the mind.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “ People can be as happy or unhappy as they make up their mind to be.” So, adopt a happy mind-set, no matter what your external situation is.

Then there is the most innocent form of happiness. Sometimes we value the well being of another rather than ours. This is the purest form of happiness and aroused out of true love. If another person’s happiness makes you feel satisfied, this kind of contempt is unique and special.

To Conclude

Happiness can be found in the simplest of things. Just remember to think creatively with optimism. Try not to always pursue happiness. Sometimes, it comes with luck.

And remember the Sanskrit mantra:

“Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu”

“ Let the Entire World be Happy “.