The Meaning Of Happiness: How Different People Understand It In Different Ways

When we live in Consciousness of this truth, we are in Satchitananda an indescribable state of Divine happiness unknown to the familiar person.

Happiness means different things to different people. To some, happiness is about spending time with family. Some people find happiness in making a difference in this world. Others find happiness in exploring the world. Some people are happiest when they are creative. Some believe that being wealthy and successful is what happiness is all about, but is it true? Explains AiR - Atman in Ravi: Happiness Ambassador, Author, Spiritual Mentor and Philanthropist.

• Regardless of what one thinks happiness is, happiness is a state of joy. We can know when someone is happy. They look cheerful and optimistic, with beaming smiles on their faces. A positive aura vibrates around a happy person. One 'looks happy' instead of sad, miserable, tearful, or even angry and irritated. We must also understand that happiness is a choice. It is up to us to be happy or unhappy.
• Something that comes and goes? Or is it more enduring? You may love to eat a pizza and even be happy as you finish your first pizza. My God! I don't want another pizza!' You would have had enough of it. So, how come the pizza that excited you earlier doesn't give you joy in the later rounds? Because it was just pleasure. And true happiness is beyond pleasure.
• Most people fail to realize this. They are lost in pursuing wealth, fame, name, success, and achievements. But success is not happiness. Happiness is success. Achievement and success only give pleasure. Pleasure is fleeting and ephemeral. We are caught in the cycle of pleasure and pain, sun and rain, loss and gain, again and again. Happiness is not a state of becoming but a state of being.

Authentic Happiness, Therefore, Is Much More Than Pleasure

Peace and ultimate happiness come from realizing the purpose of life. Therefore, happiness is best spelt with 3 Ps. That's how I spell happiness now, as happiness. The first P denotes Pleasure, the second P denotes Peace, and the third P is Purpose. We have to evolve from pleasure, which comes from achievement to peace, which comes from living with contentment and fulfilment. Peace is the foundation of happiness. If there is no peace, we can never be happy. Peace is within us. We only have to still or silence our mind - a mind that bombards us with thoughts and constantly yells and desires. Peace comes from helping others, living with gratitude and counting our blessings. We can learn to be peaceful and happy by responding and not reacting. By smiling more often. By living with acceptance and surrender.

However, we want eternal happiness, seamless peace, and joy. In that case, we must go further and realize the purpose of human life: Who are we? Why are we here? This is our ultimate goal. We must know we are not the body, mind and ego but the Soul - a Spark Of Unique Life, a part of the Supreme Immortal Power we call God.