Our Quest for Happiness
All our actions are geared towards achieving our own happiness. We firstly focus on our basic physiological needs of food, clothing and shelter. After we meet these needs, then, according to Maslow’s hierachy of needs, we proceed to focus on achieving higher needs. These are needs of safety, love and belonging, self-esteem and eventually self-actualisation. All these needs lead to happiness.
How successful are we in our quest for happiness? Is it a wild goose chase? How do we go about attaining happiness? What is the formula for attaining happiness? Is there an ultimate guide to attaining happiness?
The Attainment of Happiness
Can we, for instance, find happiness by acquiring money and wealth and the life of luxury it affords? For example, it would be gratifying to own a yacht and go on a luxury cruise. It would similarly be wonderful to own a private jet and fly around the world. At the very least, with wealth you can afford to buy whatever you want. Consequently, would that not be enough to make you happy?
There are, however, a number of rich people with their own peculiar problems. A rich person could be suffering from insomnia and may hardly be able to sleep a wink at night. Consequently, this may result in constant irritability. In a similar vein, another rich person could have bouts of depression and suicidal tendencies. In view of this, can we say that these people are happy?
On the other hand, is hedonism the answer? Philosophers have espoused the ethical theory that pleasure, in the sense of the satisfaction of the desires, is the highest good and the proper aim of human life. A hedonistic person is committed to seeking sensual pleasure.
We all have some hedonistic traits. We cannot downplay the joys of a thorough full body massage with aromatic candles in an exotic spa. What about when we smack our lips with relish after enjoying a gourmet meal? Are we not showing appreciation for sensual pleasures?
In all these though, moderation is key as excesses have their attendant problems. Think of the morbidly obese glutton or the raging alcoholic. Are they happy?
Yet still, what about academia, power or fame? Can any of these lead to happiness? All of these may indeed have their perks. However, as the philosopher in Ecclesiastes in the Bible bemoans, “All is vanity.”
For its part, can being in a state of good health make you happy? We can all attest to how good we feel after an invigorating run or bout of exercise. We cannot overemphasize being physically fit and healthy. The quote, “a sound mind in a sound body”, by the Greek philosopher Thales, demonstrates the close links between physical exercise, mental equilibrium and the ability to enjoy life.
And what about having good relationships with others? Can that make us happy? The seventeenth century writer, John Donne, in his work expressed the idea that no man is an island. As such, no one is truly self-sufficient. Thus, everyone must rely on the company and comfort of others to thrive. It is questionable whether hermits are truly happy. We do derive happiness from our relationship with others. As an example, just experience the wonder of gazing into the eyes of a child.
In another case, can we find happiness in morality, self-sacrifice, service and generally living a life of purpose? Moral values such as integrity, loyalty and honesty and compassion give you the peace of mind you need to go about your daily life. We derive a sense of accomplishment when we effectively serve others.
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Hence, is it futile to directly pursue happiness?
Conclusion
We can liken happiness to an elusive butterfly that flits away when we approach it. We can also liken happiness to a mirage, that disappears into thin air when we see it up close, after it has given the illusion of being a sheet of water on a hot road that we see from afar.
Can we therefore, conclude that happiness is a by-product of a purposeful life; something which occurs when we least expect it to? Who is not thrilled at the sight of a flower sprouting out of the crevice of a rock?
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