What exactly is Happiness? And How Can We Achieve It?

What is Happiness and How to Find It?

Where Did True Happiness Go? (A piece written just for you)

Author: Maryam Afzal

Jun 10, 2025

A Cup of Tea and the Secret to Happiness

Imagine this: after a long, exhausting day, you hold a warm cup of tea in your hands. You take the first sip, let out a deep breath, and for a few fleeting moments, all the worries of the world fade away. That single second of peace, that pure contentment... that is what happiness actually is.

We spend our entire lives chasing this tiny thing called "happiness." We think that when we get a bigger car, a higher bank balance, or achieve our next big goal, then we will finally be happy. But the moment we reach that milestone, the feeling vanishes within a few days, and we start running toward the next thing. Psychologists call this the "Hedonic Treadmill", a machine where we keep running and running, but never actually get anywhere.

Happiness is neither a product you can purchase at a shopping mall nor a final destination where your train eventually stops. Instead, it is the journey itself, a beautiful state of inner peace, contentment, and mindfulness that we mistakenly try to hunt for in the outside world. You won’t find happiness neatly packaged in a box on a store shelf; it hides quietly in the smallest, everyday things around you, waiting to be noticed.

If you feel an echo of emptiness inside despite having everything, take a deep breath, you are not alone, and this is not a disease. This is the defining truth of the modern human: we have traded contentment for chronic ungratefulness and restless impatience. We constantly scroll through other people's "perfect shots" on screens, and end up making our own ordinary, beautiful lives feel miserable.

True joy blooms when you extend a hand to someone in distress, share someone’s heavy grief, feed a hungry soul, ease a troubled mind, or bring a fleeting smile to a sad face. The profound sense of peace and fulfillment that washes over you in those quiet moments is what real happiness looks like.

As Aristotle wisely noted, true happiness is never achieved by comparing your life to the external world; it flourishes only through inner contentment and serving others.

So, the question remains: What is true happiness, and where is it hidden?

 

The Two Sides of Happiness: Science and Philosophy

If we deconstruct happiness, psychology tells us it has two major pillars:

• Emotional Balance: Sadness, anger, and challenges are inevitable in life. However, happiness means that despite these tough moments, the scales of your positive emotions remain heavier.
• Life Satisfaction: When you go to bed at night and ask your heart, "Am I satisfied with my life choices, my relationships, and my work?", and a voice from within whispers, "Yes, everything is okay."

Aristotle’s "Golden Mean"

Centuries ago, the famous philosopher Aristotle said something beautiful: "Everything a human being does, whether making money, getting married, or chasing success, is ultimately done to attain happiness."

According to him, happiness has four levels:

• The first level is Instant Gratification (like eating chocolate or buying a new outfit, which fades away very quickly).

• The highest and final level is Trascendence and being useful to others.

He believed that happiness lives in the "Golden Mean", finding the perfect balance in life, avoiding extremes. It means being neither a miser nor a spendthrift, neither short-tempered nor a coward. Balance is just another name for happiness.

 

Do Happy People Never Get Sad?

This is a massive misconception. Happy people are not superheroes who are immune to pain. They suffer heartbreaks, they cry, and they experience deep disappointment. But there is one major difference between them and others: Resilience.

They hold onto a beacon of hope that helps them stand right back up after the storm passes. They know that even if the night is pitch black, the sun is bound to rise in the morning.

 

9 Practical and Magical Ways to Find Happiness

Happiness isn't something that drops from the sky; it is a habit you have to practice every single day. Let’s look at how we can bring it into our lives:

1. The Magic of Gratitude

Science proves that our brains are hardwired to notice negative things first. The only way to rewrite this programming is through gratitude. Every night before sleeping, write down just three things that went well today. They don't have to be monumental achievements; entries like "The tea tasted perfect today" or "An old friend called me" are enough. This simple habit rewires your brain chemistry.

2. Investing in Relationships

Harvard University conducted a landmark 85-year study tracking human lives to find out who stays the happiest. The result was staggering! The happiest people weren't the ones with the most money, but the ones who had strong social connections and deep relationships. Give time to your loved ones. Surprise them with their favorite chocolate once in a while, after all, relationships are meant to be sweet!

3. Losing Yourself in the State of "Flow"

Have you ever been painting, gardening, or reading a favorite book and completely lost track of time? In psychology, this is called "Flow." When you become so immersed in an activity, your brain completely empties itself of anxieties. Find a hobby that brings you into this zone.

4. Freedom from the Prison of Past and Future (Mindfulness)

We either weep over the regrets of the past or stress over the uncertainties of the future. But life is happening right now, in this very moment. Take 5 minutes every day to breathe deeply, listen to the sounds around you, feel the breeze, and just exist in the "now."

5. The Mind-Body Connection

If your body is exhausted and neglected, your mind can never truly be happy. Take a short daily walk, get peaceful sleep, and eat nourishing food. When your body is active, your brain naturally releases happiness hormones known as Endorphins.

6. The Joy of Giving

Try feeding someone who is hungry or bringing a smile to a sad face just once. The peace your heart will experience cannot be bought at any luxury store. Helping someone in a small way gives your life a profound sense of purpose.

7. The Long-Term Benefits of Happiness

Being happy isn't just a mood; it is your medicine. Research shows that happy people have stronger immune systems, normal blood pressure, and fall sick much less often. In short, happiness literally adds years to your life!

8. Shift Your Negative Thought Filter

Whenever a negative thought creeps in, saying, "Why does this only happen to me?" stop right there. Look at the situation through a lens of reality and challenge that thought. Always look at those who have less than you, and be grateful that you are still blessed in so many ways compared to others.

9. Stop Comparing

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." Do not measure your worth by looking at someone else's curated, perfect life on social media. Everyone is on a completely different journey. What you currently have is a distant dream for millions of people.

 

Summary:

Happiness is a Journey, Not a Destination

Happiness is not a physical place where you arrive one day, unpack your bags, and settle down forever. It is a collection of daily micro-decisions, small smiles, and moments of gratitude. Don't be too hard on yourself, celebrate your tiny victories, and always remember: Happiness is not on the outside; it is beautifully hidden within you!

 

Also Read:

Childhood Obesity Causes & Prevention: Guide for Parents

The Root Cause of All Pain: What is Inflammation?

How to Lose Weight Permanently: 5 Root Causes of Weight Gain

Your Turn!

Which part of today's conversation resonated deeply with your heart? What small celebration of happiness are you going to plan for yourself this evening? Share your thoughts in the comments below; your words might just become a ray of hope for someone who needs it today!

Stay tuned, because we will be diving into another incredible topic in our next post!

 

References:

• Positive Psychology and the Science of Happiness – American Psychological Association (APA)
• The Harvard Study of Adult Development (An 85-Year Historic Study)
• Dr. Martin Seligman – Founder of Positive Psychology & Author
• A Scientific Review of Mindfulness and Mental Peace – Mindful.org
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – Balancing Physical and Mental Health