On What is Happiness
“Happiness is an active or passive state of pleasure or pleasurable satisfaction.” This definition, somewhat incomplete, is what we know and generally accept.
If you search on an AI tool, it will come up with a definition like “Happiness is a multifaceted and subjective state of well-being that encompasses a range of positive emotions and life satisfaction.”
But whatever it is, this passive or active state of pleasure, which we call happiness, is intimate, although some public figures strive to make it public. True. They enjoy making their private lives, emotional and economic status, public,
Contrary to ‘sorrow’ that lingers in us for a lifetime, ‘happiness’ is a short-lived emotion and sometimes comes and goes so fast that we seldom keep the idea of us once upon a time being happy. Worse, even contrary to ‘sorrow,’ which we see as real, ‘happiness’ is surreal, like a rainbow, and our only proof of seeing it, happiness, is sometimes through our tears. Tears of happiness, we call them.
However, none of those definitions tell us what produces happiness. None of them tell us if health, love, peace, freedom, or money encompasses a range of positive emotions and life satisfaction. But, for some reason, we always cancel health, love, peace, or freedom when discussing happiness, and instead, we focus on money. Why. Because we have been conditioned that way. Everything we do is to survive, and survival sounds better with money. Education, skills, and work are a means to obtain money. Therefore, in our minds, not always in our hearts, though, money is always attached to happiness.
Me? I confess that at my age, I would welcome a large sum. Why not? Will that money make me happy? Perhaps. Still, as we age, our values change, although I will sound hypocritical if I answer you that I would prefer good health and peace in this season of my life. Yes, I do but don’t get me wrong, money is always welcome. I will be happier with a more considerable income.
And you, my friend who kindly read these lines, could please tell me: Would money make you happy?
With Love,
Sal
