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happiness noun

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Earlier version

• happiness in OED Second Edition (1989)

What does the noun happiness mean?

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun happiness . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun happiness ?

How is the noun happiness pronounced?

British english, u.s. english, where does the noun happiness come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun happiness is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for happiness is from around 1473, in a translation by William Caxton, printer, merchant, and diplomat.

happiness is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: happy adj. , ‑ness suffix .

Nearby entries

• happenly, adv. c1450–1554
• happen-so, n. 1816–
• happenstance, n. & adj. 1857–
• happer, v.¹ 1519
• happer, v.² 1587–
• happi, n. 1880–
• happi-coat, n. 1927–
• happify, v. 1612–
• happiless, adj. 1582–
• happily, adv. a1375–
• happiness, n. ?1473–
• happing, n.¹ ?c1400–
• happing, n.² c1440
• happing, adj. 1593–1625
• happious, adj. 1532
• happy, adj. & n. a1387–
• happy, v. 1600–
• happy-be-lucky, adv. 1633–1836
• happy camper, n. 1957–
• happy-clappy, adj. & n. 1985–
• happy couple, n. 1631–

Meaning & use

All my lyf hath ben nouryshyd in happynes .

Suche seldome sauour fortunes happynes .

Fortoune, þat in hie happynes Settis seire mene.

Wish me partaker in thy happinesse , When thou do'st meet good hap.

Whether..we follow them by the only force of natural happiness , or instinct.

We all bowed to the ground; the supplest of the company had the happiness to touch the sacred slipper.

I had the happiness to sit as the representative of that large and opulent town for a period of six years.

Sure we cannot have had the happiness to meet you for nothing. 'T was ordained you should walk in upon us.

He replied with some tartness that he had the happiness to know his royal father better than I, and desired me not to be too confident in the knowledge of how his ghost would speak.

• heal Old English–1605 Well-being, welfare, safety; prosperity.
• selth Old English–1425 Prosperity, good fortune, happiness.
• weal Old English– Welfare, well-being, happiness, prosperity.
• goder-heal a1225–1400 Welfare, prosperity.
• prosperity ?c1225– The condition of being prosperous, successful, or thriving; good fortune, success, well-being, wealth.
• wealth a1300–1600 The condition of being happy and prosperous; well-being. Obsolete (exc. archaic ). Of a person.
• state c1300–1651 With of . The community of people in the church, a country, realm, etc., considered with regard to its welfare and polity; the condition of…
• health a1325–1611 Well-being, welfare, safety; deliverance.
• welfare 1357– The state or condition of doing or being well; well-being, prosperity, success; the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group.
• theedom 1362–1522 Thriving; prosperity.
• wealfulness c1374–1532
• bonchief a1387–1530 Good fortune, prosperity, easy circumstances.
• felicity 1393– Prosperity; good fortune, success. Now rare .
• boot a1400–30 loosely , Well-being, weal. Obsolete .
• well a1400–1650 Well-being, welfare, advantage, profit. In general use. Frequently in for the well of . Cf. weal , n.¹ 2a. Obsolete .
• well-doing c1440– The fact or condition of doing well or thriving; welfare, good health; prosperity, success. Cf. well-being , n. , well-doing , adj. 2. Now archaic and…
• prosperance a1460–1503 Prosperity.
• happiness ?1473– Good fortune or good luck in life generally or in a particular affair; success, prosperity. Now rare .
• quartfulness 1483 Health; prosperity.
• brightness a1500– Happiness, success, or prosperity, esp. as a likely future prospect.
• goodness a1500–1743 Good fortune; prosperity. Obsolete .
• sonse a1500– Abundance, plenty; prosperity; happiness; luck.
• thriftiness ?1529 Thriving condition, prosperity. Obsolete . rare .
• prosperation 1543– Prosperity.
• well-being 1561– With reference to a person or community: the state of being healthy, happy, or prosperous; physical, psychological, or moral welfare.
• prosperousness 1600– The quality or condition of being prosperous; prosperity, success.
• fair world 1641 A state of well-being or prosperity.
• thrivingness 1818– Thriving condition.
• goldenness 1829– The quality or condition of being golden (in various senses of the adjective).
• palminess 1875– The state or quality of being palmy; triumph, prosperity.

How great a happynes or quietie (it is) to a father to haue his chyldren by al thinges.

So much the more despising these instable & imperfect happinesses of this life.

Nature hath..heaped into this teritorie..all those delightfull happinesses .

Ten thousand happinesses wait on you.

It is a very great Happiness , and particular Providence of God, that the Sea and Rivers here seem..to contest.

It was therefore one of our greatest Happinesses .

Heaped up happinesses in the plural belong to that man who fears the Lord.

The young woman wiped away her tears and came forward to wish them ten thousand happinesses .

• hap c1225–1813 Good fortune, good luck; success, prosperity. In early use also paired with heal , n. , sele , n. Cf. goodhap , n. Obsolete .
• whate c1330 ? Good fortune, luck.
• fortune 1390– absol. (= good fortune): Good luck; success, prosperity.
• good luck 1481– A combination of favourable circumstances or events occurring by chance; success, prosperity, or advantage apparently brought about by chance rather…
• luck a1500– The chance occurrence of situations or events favourable to a person's interests; success, prosperity, or advantage apparently brought about by…
• Lady Luck a1535– = fortune , n. 1a (cf. Dame Fortune at dame , n. II.6a).
• happiness 1540– An instance or cause of good fortune. Frequently in plural (in later use often as part of a stylized formula for wishing good fortune).
• goodhap 1557– Good fortune. Cf. mishap , n. 1.
• faustity 1656–1729 ‘Good luck, happiness’.
• serendipity 1754– The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident. Also, the fact or an instance of such a discovery.
• kokum 1851–64 Advantageous or favourable circumstances; luck. Obsolete .
• dumb luck 1864– Luck, esp. good luck, viewed as being even more unpredictable or arbitrary than usual; pure chance.
• bonanza 1878– figurative and in extended use.

My sone, Set nocht thi happynes In na syk plays mar na les.

Who can prayse and meruayle ynough at your filycyte & happynes , most blessed Leo.

Like beast [that] hath no hope of happinesse or blis.

To sowre your happinesse , I must report The Queene is dead.

Let it suffice thee that thou know'st Us happie, and without Love no happiness .

Happiness consists in the attainment of the highest and most lasting natural good.

O Happiness ! our Being's End and Aim! Good, Pleasure, Ease, Content! whate'er thy name.

Happiness signifies a gratified state of all the faculties.

Each one's happiness may be defined as the surplus centre when the total of pain is subtracted from the total of pleasure.

How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness , is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do.

He said happiness and a life without tension were key to his longevity.

• queemness Old English–1250 Pleasure, satisfaction.
• queem c1175–1500 Pleasure, satisfaction. Chiefly in to (a person's) queem : so as to be satisfactory; to a person's liking or satisfaction. to take to queem : to accept.
• suffisance c1374–1592 Satisfaction, contentment. Obsolete .
• pleasing c1400– The giving of pleasure or satisfaction; the fact of being pleased or satisfied; gratification, satisfaction. Also: an instance of this.
• complacence c1436– Pleasure, delight; satisfaction. Obsolete .
• resting ?a1475– The action or an act of placing hope or trust in a person or thing (also with † on , † upon ); reliance on , confidence in ; continued satisfaction.
• satisfaction 1477– The state or quality of feeling satisfied or contented; (in later use chiefly) gratification, pleasure, or contentment caused by a fact, event, or…
• happiness a1500– The state of pleasurable contentment of mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one's circumstances.
• thankfulness 1500 Gratification, satisfaction. Obsolete . rare .
• contention 1516– = contentation , n. Obsolete .
• contentation a1533– Contented or satisfied condition. archaic .
• contenting 1541– The action of content , v. ; satisfaction, contentment, content. Now rare .
• satisfiedness 1571– The fact or quality of being satisfied; satisfaction.
• content 1578– Satisfaction, pleasure; a contented condition. (Now esp. as a habitual frame of mind.)
• contentedness 1581– The state or quality of being contented.
• appeasement 1586– The result of appeasing; the state of being appeased; pacification, satisfaction.
• contentment 1597– The fact, condition, or quality of being contented; contentedness. (The usual modern sense.)
• heart's content 1600– heart's content : now in phrase, to one's heart's content , to one's full inward satisfaction.
• acquiescence 1612– The action, condition, or quality of acquiescing ( acquiesce , v. 2a); untroubled contentment, quiet satisfaction. Now archaic and rare .
• pleasedness 1626– The condition or appearance of being pleased; pleasure, satisfaction.
• well-apaidness 1633–42
• well-pleasedness 1633– Great pleasure, contentment, or satisfaction; an instance of this.
• complacency 1643– The fact or state of being pleased with a thing or person; tranquil pleasure or satisfaction in something or someone.
• acquiescency 1646– = acquiescence , n. (in various senses).
• bliss Old English– Blitheness; gladness; joy, delight, enjoyment. Physical, social, mundane: passing at length into 2b.
• eadiness Old English–1250 Happiness, prosperity; blessedness.
• sele Old English– Happiness, prosperity, good fortune. on sele , a sele (Old English on sǽlum , on sálum ): happy.
• eadilaik c1175 Happiness, prosperity.
• blissfulness c1374– The quality or state of being blissful; joyfulness, happiness.
• seeliness c1374–1532 Happiness, blessedness.
• felicity c1386– The state of being happy; happiness (in modern use with stronger sense, intense happiness, bliss); a particular instance or kind of this.
• beneurte 1480 Happiness, blessedness.
• seelihead a1500 Happiness.
• glee 1579–88 A state of exaltation or prosperity. Obsolete .
• eudemony 1727– Happiness, prosperity.
• a song in one's heart 1862– a song in one's heart : a feeling of joy or pleasure. Often in with a song in one's heart .
• the bluebird of happiness 1911– the bluebird of happiness : happiness symbolized as a bluebird, frequently considered elusive.

I am transform'd into a happiness Cannot be figured.

It is a happiness to a man to be able to amuse himself with writing.

Mother asked me if I did not think it a happiness to be able to bestow pleasure on those poor friends of hers?

Such a happiness that it has all come right.

It is a happiness to me to put my feet upon the soil of Massachusetts.

I saw a very red robin this morning. What small happinesses .

Who but a hypochondriac would state that his idea of a perfect happiness was not having a headache?

• honeycomb Old English– figurative . Something resembling a honeycomb in sweetness; that which is good, pleasant, or desirable.
• sweetness ?c1225– Pleasant feeling, delight, pleasure; also, a source of delight or pleasure. Now rare or merged in other senses.
• dainty 1340–1798 concrete . Anything estimable, choice, fine, pleasing or delightful; hence occasionally, a luxury, rarity (cf. dainty , adj. 2). Obsolete except as…
• sweet 1377– That which is pleasant to the mind or feelings; something that affords enjoyment or gratifies desire; (a) pleasure, (a) delight; the pleasant part of …
• delice c1390–1843 A luxurious or pleasurable thing; a source of pleasure; a luxury, a delight. Also: a desire. Obsolete .
• lust 1390–1549 Quasi- concrete . A source of pleasure or delight; †an attraction, charm ( obsolete ). poetic .
• pleasance c1390– A source of pleasure; that in which a person delights. Now rare .
• pleasing c1390–1633 A pleasing thing or action, a source of pleasure, an object of delight. Obsolete .
• well-queem a1400 Benevolence, favour; pleasure. Also: a thing which is pleasing or agreeable (cf. well-queemness , n. ).
• well-queemness a1400 A thing which is pleasing or agreeable.
• douceur c1400– Sweetness and pleasantness of manner; amiability, gentleness.
• delectation ?a1425– Something which is a source of pleasure or delight; a very pleasant or gratifying thing; (sometimes) spec. a very appetizing food, drink, or dish…
• pleasure 1443– A source or object of pleasure or delight; a pleasurable experience.
• pleaser c1447– A person who or thing which pleases, or aims at pleasing. Frequently as the second element in objective compounds.
• delectabilities a1500– In plural . Delectable things; delights; (in later use) esp. delicious foods, drinks, etc.; delicacies.
• deliciosities a1500– In plural . Delicious or delightful things; delights; (in later use spec. ) delicious foods, dishes, etc.; delicacies.
• honeydew 1559– figurative and in figurative contexts, esp. a delightful or desirable thing.
• delicacy 1586–1882 A source of delight or enjoyment; a very enjoyable or pleasurable thing. Obsolete ( archaic in later use).
• fancy 1590–1712 ‘Something that pleases or entertains’ (Johnson).
• sugar candy 1591– figurative . Something that is very sweet or pleasant. Also used as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address, esp. to a woman or child.
• regalo 1622–1847 A present, esp. of choice food or drink; a lavish meal or entertainment. Also figurative . Cf. regale , n.²
• happiness 1637– An instance or source of pleasure or contentment.
• deliciousness 1651– In plural . Delicious or delightful things; delights.
• complacence 1667 concrete . An object or source of pleasure and satisfaction. Obsolete .
• regale a1677– In extended use. Now rare .
• sweetener 1741– Something that produces (or restores) pleasant feeling; something pleasing, gratifying, or comforting; also, a means of persuasion, an inducement…
• bon-bon 1856– transferred and figurative .
• Bones 1869– The Skull and Bones, an exclusive and secretive senior undergraduate society at Yale University; see Skull and Bones , n. Also and in earliest use…
• jam 1871– transferred and figurative . Something good or sweet, esp. with allusion to the use of sweets to hide the disagreeable taste of medicine, or the like…
• true love 1893– Chiefly with possessive pronoun. figurative . Something that a person loves dearly and that provides an unfailing source of pleasure or satisfaction.
• nuts 1910– Expressing incredulity, rejection, etc.: ‘nonsense!’, ‘rubbish!’ Also used (frequently with to ) to express contempt for or disregard of a person or…
• barrel of fun (laughs, etc.) 1915– In figurative phrase barrel of fun (laughs, etc.) : (the source of) a great deal of enjoyment or entertainment. colloquial (originally U.S. ).
• G-spot 1983– figurative . Something likened to the G-spot (sense 1) in being a source of great pleasure, excitement, or satisfaction.

By hys singuler vigilancye sought them oute, by his hyghe prudence espyed them,..& with great happines toke them quyte awaye.

Claudio He is a very proper man. Prince He hath indeede a good outward happines .

The charge of the whole fleete she committed to Charles Howard of Effingham..of whose happinesse she had a very good perswasion.

There being certain Graces and Happinesses peculiar to every Language.

He..reduces it from strength of thought to happiness of language.

Possessing no vigour of language, and gifted with no happiness of expression.

If his ideas are common as flies, the happiness of his style and his personality has made them as rare and as immortal as flies in amber.

• rightness ?a1425– Accordance with truth or fact; correctness, accuracy, precision.
• aptness a1538– Fitness for a purpose; suitableness, appropriateness.
• happiness 1550– Successful or felicitous aptitude, fitness, suitability, or appropriateness; felicity. Also: an instance of this. Now rare .
• felicity 1605– A happy faculty in art or speech; admirable appropriateness or grace of invention or expression.
• aptitude 1643– The quality of being fit for a purpose or position, or suited to general requirements; fitness, suitableness, appropriateness.
• patness 1653– The quality or condition of being pat or to the point; aptness. In recent use also: glibness.
• appositeness 1664– The quality of being apposite, aptness.
• apropos 1860– An opportune or pertinent occurrence ( obsolete ); pertinency.

Happiness is a warm puppy.

Happiness is a warm gun.

Happiness is ..just-a-few-earlies in the vegetable garden.

If you're hardcore about mountain-biking, happiness is a great off-road trail that offers gut-wrenching uphills, heart-stopping downhills and an environment that combines a sense of real exploration with wild, untouched natural beauty.

Happiness is never having to ask directions.

Pronunciation

• ð th ee
• ɬ rhingy ll

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence <petal> /ˈpɛtl/ but <petally> /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

• a trap, bath
• ɑː start, palm, bath
• ɔː thought, force
• ᵻ (/ɪ/-/ə/)
• ᵿ (/ʊ/-/ə/)

Other symbols

• The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
• The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
• Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here .

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in <bitter>

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence <petal> /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but <petally> /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

• i fleece, happ y
• æ trap, bath
• ɑ lot, palm, cloth, thought
• ɔ cloth, thought
• ɔr north, force
• ə strut, comm a
• ər nurse, lett er
• ɛ(ə)r square
• æ̃ sal on

Simple Text Respell

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

• arr carry (British only)
• a(ng) gratin
• o lot (British only)
• orr sorry (British only)
• o(ng) salon

Date of use

Variant forms.

• late Middle English–1600s happynes
• 1500s happynesse
• 1500s–1600s happines , happinesse
• 1600s hapines
• 1600s–1700s happyness
• 1600s– happiness

happiness is one of the 5,000 most common words in modern written English. It is similar in frequency to words like authorize , blind , intermediate , lunch , and steal .

It typically occurs about 20 times per million words in modern written English.

happiness is in frequency band 6, which contains words occurring between 10 and 100 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency of happiness, n. , 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole , n.¹, mole , n.², mole , n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Frequency of happiness, n. , 2017–2023

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Compounds & derived words

• All compounds & derived words
• Curated compounds
• unhappiness , n. 1470– The condition of being unhappy in mind.
• bomb-happiness , n. 1944–
• trigger-happiness , n. 1945–

Whatever the new expenditure, the happiness index soon returns to its old figure, whatever that may be, determined by unseen facts of the individual psyche.

Among other findings from the happiness survey are: the state of a man's finances is no reliable gauge of his happiness.

The happiness index provided a rough measure which could be correlated with personality, sexual, and other background factors, the object being to discover factors that might be used in predicting the probable degree of adjustment in a given marriage.

Getting liberal dividends twice a year on insured savings keeps you reminded that you're building permanent security. Try that on your happiness meter!

Perhaps she can try a glass or two of tonic wine? More likely her G.P. will..prescribe a happiness pill.

‘ Happiness indicators’, such as land use, will be used to gauge the average Briton's quality of life.

Happiness levels throughout life form a U-curve, reaching their lowest ebb in the mid-forties before climbing back up into old age.

Entry history for happiness, n.

happiness, n. was revised in December 2013.

happiness, n. was last modified in March 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into happiness, n. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1898)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View happiness in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for happiness, n., browse entry.

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Definition of happiness

• blessedness
• blissfulness
• warm fuzzies

Examples of happiness in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happiness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

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Cite this entry.

“Happiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happiness. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of happiness, more from merriam-webster on happiness.

Nglish: Translation of happiness for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of happiness for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about happiness

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What Is Happiness and Why Is It Important? (+ Definition)

It seems like an odd question, but is it? Do you know how to define happiness? Do you think happiness is the same thing to you as it is to others?

What’s the point of it all? Does it even make a difference in our lives?

In fact, happiness does have a pretty important role in our lives, and it can have a huge impact on the way we live our lives. Although researchers have yet to pin down the definition or an agreed-upon framework for happiness, there’s a lot we have learned in the last few decades.

This article will dive into the science of happiness, what it actually is, and why it matters.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Happiness & Subjective Wellbeing Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients identify sources of authentic happiness and strategies to boost wellbeing.

This Article Contains:

• A Look at the Oxford English Dictionary’s Definition of Happiness

What is the Meaning of Happiness in Positive Psychology?

The psychology behind human happiness, 8 examples that describe what a happy life looks like, why is happiness so important, 6 videos that explain happiness, a take-home message, a look at the oxford english dictionary ‘s definition of happiness.

First, let’s take a look at the definition of happiness so we’re all on the same page.  Oxford English Dictionary ’s definition of “happiness” is a simple one: “ The state of being happy .”

Not exactly what we were looking for, was it? Perhaps we need to dive a little deeper.  Oxford English Dictionary ’s definition of “happy” is a little more helpful: “ Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment .”

That’s better! So, happiness is the state of feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. From this definition, we can glean a few important points about happiness:

• Happiness is a state, not a trait; in other words, it isn’t a long-lasting, permanent feature or personality trait, but a more fleeting, changeable state.
• Happiness is equated with feeling pleasure or contentment, meaning that happiness is not to be confused with joy, ecstasy, bliss, or other more intense feelings.
• Happiness can be either feeling or showing, meaning that happiness is not necessarily an internal or external experience, but can be both.

Download 3 Free Happiness Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to discover authentic happiness and cultivate subjective well-being.

Download 3 Free Happiness Tools Pack (PDF)

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The meaning of happiness in Positive Psychology really depends on who you ask.

Happiness is often known by another name in positive psychology research: subjective wellbeing, or SWB.

Some believe happiness is one of the core components of SWB, while others believe happiness is SWB. Regardless, you’ll frequently find SWB used as a shorthand for happiness in the literature.

And speaking of the literature, you will find references to SWB everywhere. A quick Google search for the word “happiness” offers over 2 million results (as of January 6th, 2019). Further, a scan for the same term in two of psychology’s biggest online databases (PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES) returns 19,139 results from academic and other journals, books, dissertations, and more.

Is it difficult to define scientifically?

With so many takes on happiness, it’s no wonder that happiness is a little difficult to define scientifically; there is certainly disagreement about what, exactly, happiness is.

According to researchers Chu Kim-Prieto, Ed Diener, and their colleagues (2005), there are three main ways that happiness has been approached in positive psychology:

• Happiness as a global assessment of life and all its facets;
• Happiness as a recollection of past emotional experiences;
• Happiness as an aggregation of multiple emotional reactions across time (Kim-Prieto, Diener, Tamir, Scollon, & Diener, 2005).

Although they generally all agree on what happiness feels like—being satisfied with life, in a good mood, feeling positive emotions , feeling enjoyment, etc.—researchers have found it difficult to agree on the scope of happiness.

However, for our purposes in this piece, it’s enough to work off of a basic definition that melds the OED ‘s definition with that of positive psychologists: happiness is a state characterized by contentment and general satisfaction with one’s current situation.

Pleasure vs. happiness

The association between the two makes sense, and it’s common to hear the two words used interchangeably outside of the literature; however, when it comes to the science of positive psychology, it is important to make a distinction between the two.

Happiness, as we described above, is a state characterized by feelings of contentment and satisfaction with one’s life or current situation. On the other hand, pleasure is a more visceral, in-the-moment experience. It often refers to the sensory-based feelings we get from experiences like eating good food, getting a massage, receiving a compliment, or having sex.

Happiness , while not a permanent state, is a more stable state than pleasure. Happiness generally sticks around for longer than a few moments at a time, whereas pleasure can come and go in seconds (Paul, 2015).

Pleasure can contribute to happiness, and happiness can enhance or deepen feelings of pleasure, but the two can also be completely mutually exclusive. For example, you can feel a sense of happiness based on meaning and engagement that has nothing to do with pleasure, or you could feel pleasure but also struggle with guilt because of it, keeping you from feeling happy at the same time.

Happiness vs. meaning

Happiness and meaning have an even more distinct line between the two. Rarely are happiness and meaning confused or used interchangeably, and for good reason—they describe two very different experiences.

Humans may resemble many other creatures in their striving for happiness, but the quest for meaning is a key part of what makes us human, and uniquely so.

Roy Baumeister et al. (2013)

Unlike happiness, meaning is not a fleeting state that drifts throughout the day; it’s a more comprehensive sense of purpose and feeling of contributing to something greater than yourself.

As the quote from Baumeister and colleagues (2013) suggests, there are important distinctions between the methods of searching for and the benefits of experiencing happiness and meaning. Scott Barry Kaufman at Scientific American (2016) outlines these distinctions that Baumeister and his fellow researchers found between the two:

• Finding one’s life easy or difficult was related to happiness, but not meaning;
• Feeling healthy was related to happiness, but not meaning;
• Feeling good was related to happiness, not meaning;
• Scarcity of money reduced happiness more than meaning;
• People with more meaningful lives agreed that “relationships are more important than achievements;”
• Helping people in need was linked to meaning but not happiness;
• Expecting to do a lot of deep thinking was positively related to meaningfulness, but negatively with happiness;
• Happiness was related more to being a taker rather than a giver, whereas meaning was related more to being a giver than a taker;
• The more people felt their activities were consistent with the core themes and values of their self, the greater meaning they reported in their activities;
• Seeing oneself as wise, creative, and even anxious were all linked to meaning but had no relationship (and in some cases, even showed a negative relationship) to happiness (Kaufman, 2016).

Basically, although the two overlaps and each can contribute to the experience of the other, the two can be mutually exclusive (Baumeister et al., 2013).

Relevant reading: 19 Cliché Happiness Quotes & The (Lack Of) Science Behind Them

The origins and etymology of happiness (Incl. root words)

According to Etymology Online  (n.d.), the word for “happy” in most languages came from the word for “lucky.” This suggests an interesting trend—perhaps our ancestors believed that happiness was largely a by-product of luck?

It also points to a possible difference of general opinion between earlier generations and our own 20th and 21st-century generations: that happiness was not a vital factor in a good life, but essentially a bonus that some lucky individuals got to experience.

Here’s what author Darrin McMahon writes about the origins and root words of the word “happiness:”

“It is a striking fact that in every Indo-European language, without exception, going all the way back to ancient Greek, the word for happiness is a cognate with the word for luck. Hap is the Old Norse and Old English root of happiness, and it just means luck or chance, as did the Old French heur, giving us bonheur, good fortune or happiness. German gives us the word Gluck, which to this day means both happiness and chance.”

(McMahon, 2006)

What does self-happiness mean?

Although the term is not used very often, “self-happiness” refers to a sense of happiness or satisfaction with one’s self. It is often associated with self-confidence, self-esteem, and other concepts that marry “the self” with feeling content and happy.

In general, it means that you are pleased with yourself and your choices, and with the person that you are.

Happiness can be defined as an enduring state of mind consisting not only of feelings of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions, but also of a sense that one’s life is meaningful and valued (Lyubomirsky, 2001).

Happiness energizes us and is a highly sought after state of being. But, what components make up happiness?

Martin Seligman (2002) argued that happiness has three dimensions that can be cultivated:  

• The regular experience of pleasantness (the pleasant life)
• The frequent engagement in satisfying activities (the engaged life)
• The experience of a sense of connectedness to a greater whole (the meaningful life)

Although each dimension is important, the happiest people tend to be those who pursue the full life— they infuse their life with pleasure, engagement, and meaning (Seligman et al., 2005).

Building on Seligman’s three dimensions of happiness, Sirgy and Wu (2009) added the balanced life dimension.

According to these authors, balance in life is another key factor contributing to happiness because the amount of satisfaction derived from a single life domain is limited. One needs to be involved in multiple domains to satisfy the broad spectrum of human needs. As a result, cultivating a sense of balance is crucial for juggling these life domains.

Now that we know what happiness is, let’s dive a little deeper. What does psychology have to tell us about happiness?

There are many different theories of happiness, but they generally fall into one of two categories based on how they conceptualize happiness (or well-being):

• Hedonic happiness/well-being is happiness conceptualized as experiencing more pleasure and less pain; it is composed of an affective component (high positive affect and low negative affect) and a cognitive component (satisfaction with one’s life);
• Eudaimonic happiness/well-being conceptualizes happiness as the result of the pursuit and attainment of life purpose, meaning, challenge, and personal growth; happiness is based on reaching one’s full potential and operating at full functioning (AIPC, 2011).

Some theories see happiness as a by-product of other, more important pursuits in life, while others see happiness as the end-goal for humans. Some theories state that pursuing happiness is pointless (although pursuing other important experiences and feelings may contribute to greater happiness), and some assume that happiness can be purposefully increased or enhanced.

Although they differ on the specifics, these theories generally agree on a few points:

• It’s good to be happy, and people like being happy;
• Happiness is neither a totally fleeting, momentary experience nor a stable, long-term trait;
• At least some portion of our happiness is set by our genetics, but the amount varies from about 10% up to 50%;
• The pursuit and attainment of pleasure will rarely lead to happiness;
• There are many sources that contribute to or compose happiness (AIPC, 2011).

What sources create true personal happiness?

Taking together all the various theories and findings on happiness, we know that there are at least a few factors that are very important for overall happiness:

• Individual income;
• Labor market status;
• Physical health;
• Social relationships;
• Moral values;
• Experience of positive emotions (AIPC, 2011).

All of these factors can contribute to a happy life, but research has found that good relationships are a vital ingredient (Waldinger & Schulz, 2010).

When we are happy in our most important relationships (usually our spouse or significant other, our children and/or our parents, other close family members, and our closest friends), we tend to be happier.

We have some control over how our relationships go, so that leads us to an interesting and important question: can we increase our own happiness?

Can individuals learn how to be happy?

The answer from numerous studies is a resounding YES—you CAN learn how to be happier.

The degree to which you can increase your happiness will vary widely by which theory you subscribe to, but there are no credible theories that allow absolutely no room for individual improvement. To improve your overall happiness, the most effective method is to look at the list of sources above and work on enhancing the quality of your experiences in each one of them.

For example, you can work on getting a higher salary (although a higher salary will only work up to about $75,000 USD a year), improve your health , work on developing and maintaining high-quality relationships, and overall, find ways to incorporate more positive feelings into your daily life. This does assume basic access to safety as well as social equality.

Of course, what it looks like will depend on the individual—a happy life for one person may be another’s nightmare!

However, there are a few examples that can display a wide range of lives that can be conducive to happiness:

• A woman who lives alone, has excellent relationships with her nieces and nephews, gives to charity, and finds meaning in her work;
• A man who is happily married with three healthy children and a relatively low-paying job;
• A widow who enjoys regular visits with her children and grandchildren, along with volunteering for local charities;
• A cancer patient who has a wonderful support system and finds meaning in helping others make it through chemotherapy;
• A social worker who works 70-hour weeks with no overtime pay, to ensure the children on her caseload are in good hands;
• An unmarried man in a monastery who has no earthly possessions and no salary to speak of, but finds meaning in communing with his god;
• A teenager in a foster home who has several close friends and enjoys playing football on his school’s team;
• A man who lives with several pets, enjoys a high salary, and loves his job.

Each of these was pulled from real-world examples of people who are happy. They may not seem like they have it all, but they all have at least one of the ingredients from the list of sources mentioned earlier. We don’t need to have everything we want in order to be happy—true happiness can be obtained by finding joy in what we already have, however much or little that may seem.

What are some visions you associate with happiness? Are there any similarities with these dreams?

You might be wondering why happiness is considered such an important aspect of life, as there are many components of a meaningful life.

In some ways, science would agree with you. It appears that  life satisfaction , meaning, and well-being can be linked with happiness, but happiness is not necessarily the overarching goal for everyone in life. It is still important because it has some undeniably positive benefits and co-occurring factors.

June Silny at Happify outlines 14 answers to the question, “ What’s so great about happiness, anyway? ”

• Happy people are more successful in multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health.
• Happy people get sick less often and experience fewer symptoms when they do get sick.
• Happy people have more friends and a better support system.
• Happy people donate more to charity (and giving money to charity makes you happy, too).
• Happy people are more helpful and more likely to volunteer—which also makes you happier!
• Happy people have an easier time navigating through life since optimism eases pain, sadness, and grief.
• Happy people have a positive influence on others and encourage them to seek happiness as well, which can act as reinforcement.
• Happy people engage in deeper and more meaningful conversations.
• Happy people smile more, which is beneficial to your health.
• Happy people exercise more often and eat more healthily.
• Happy people are happy with what they have rather than being jealous of others.
• Happy people are healthier all around and more likely to be healthy in the future.
• Happy people live longer than those who are not as happy.
• Happy people are more productive and more creative, and this effect extends to all those experiencing positive emotions.

The relationship between mental health and happiness

As you can probably assume from the list above, there is a strong relationship between mental health and happiness! When happy people are healthier, have better relationships, make friends more easily, and find more success in life, it’s easy to see why happiness and mental health are related.

The sources that contribute to happiness are the same as those that provide people with a buffer or protection against mental illness, which explains the close relationship between the two.

A recent study explored the association between happiness and mental health in college students and found that a relatively strong, positive correlation connects the two factors (Shafiq, Nas, Ansar, Nasrulla, Bushra, & Imam, 2015). This correlation held, even when gender and socio-demographic variables were added to the mix.

The close tie between mental health and happiness is reason enough to make happiness an important priority for parents, educators, researchers, and medical professionals alike, along with the simple fact that we all like to feel happy!

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If you’re interested in learning more about happiness from a scientific perspective, there are a few videos you might want to check out, including:

Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness by Professor Tal Ben-Shahar from WGBH Forum.

Shawn Achor – The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance TEDTalk from TEDx Talks

Positive Psychology – Happier by Professor Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. from FightMediocrity

How to be Happy – The Science of Happiness and Feeling Positive in Life from Memorize Academy

The Surprising Science of Happiness TED Talk by Dan Gilbert from TED

How to Be Happy – The Secret of Authentic Happiness – Martin Seligman from Practical Psychology

I hope this piece was helpful and informative for you, and that you learned something new about the scientific study of happiness. It’s a fascinating area of research, and new findings are coming out all the time. Make sure you stay up to date on the happiness literature , as the findings can be of great use in helping you to live your best life!

What are your thoughts on happiness? Would you define it differently? What do you find is the most important ingredient for your own happiness? Let us know in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading, I hope you are all finding happiness in all your life journeys.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Happiness Exercises for free .

• AIPC. (2011). Happiness and positive psychology. Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors Article Library . Retrieved from https://www.aipc.net.au/articles/happiness-and-positive-psychology/
• Baumeister, R., Vohs, K. D., Aaker, J. L., & Gabinsky, E. N. (2013). Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8 , 505-516.
• Joseph Sirgy, M., & Wu, J. (2009). The pleasant life, the engaged life, and the meaningful life: What about the balanced life? Journal of Happiness Studies, 10 , 183-196.
• Kaufman, S. B. (2016). The differences between happiness and meaning in life. Scientific American . Retrieved from https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/the-differences-between-happiness-and-meaning-in-life/
• Kim-Prieto, C., Diener, E., Tamir, M., Scollon, C. N., & Diener, M. (2005). Integrating the diverse definitions of happiness: A time-sequential framework of subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 6 , 261-300.
• Lyubomirsky, S. (2001). Why are some people happier than others? The role of cognitive and motivational processes in well-being. American Psychologist, 56(3) , 239.
• McMahon, D. (2006). Happiness: A history . Grove Press.
• Online Etymology Dictionary (n.d.). Happy . Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/
• Paul, M. (2015). The difference between happiness and pleasure. Huffington Post: Life . Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-difference-between-happiness-and-pleasure_b_7053946
• Seligman, M. E. (2002).  Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment . Simon and Schuster.
• Seligman, M. E., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5) , 410.
• Shafiq, S., Naz, R. A., Ansar, M., Nasrulla, T., Bushra, M., & Imam, S. (2015). Happiness as related to mental health among university students. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 5 , 124-132.
• Silny, J. (n.d.). What’s so great about happiness, anyway? (The answer: plenty!). Happify Daily . Retrieved from https://www.happify.com/hd/whats-so-great-about-happiness/
• Waldinger, R. J., & Schulz, M. S. (2010). What’s love got to do with it?: Social functioning, perceived health, and daily happiness in married octogenarians. Psychology and Aging, 25 , 422-431.

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What our readers think.

His article was extremely helpful and enabled me to grasp the concept of the confusing question of what it means to be happy and the general meaning of happiness. I’m so glad I found this article to be honest.

I disagree with your comment that ‘Happiness is not a state but a trait.’ I see happiness as a purely internal construct. I choose to be happy regardless of the people or things going on around me. Those people who look for happiness in others, outside of themselves, bounce back and forth between some fleeting form of happiness and unhappiness. If they would instead see happiness as an internal construct, man vs himself, they wouldn’t be dependent on someone else for their personal feelings of happiness. Because really, you don’t have the power to change others… But you do have all the power you need to change how you choose to see and react to what’s around you. The ball of your happiness is 100% in your court.

The article was very helpful and informative

Just finished your article on happiness, or SWB and meaning . As stated in your article, happiness is fleeting and subject to feel good material goods and personal objectives. Having sex, kids, buying a new car, an opioid response. However, I thought life was supposed to have meaning that would contribute to my happiness. I chose a career based on what I thought I could contribute to my own and others lives. Rather naïve on my behalf and futile at this stage. I’m 72 years old and understand less now about the world as it is than ever before. I’ve seen the horrors of war and have moved forward from those days to marrying, having a family and building a career, the dopamine response, however I’ve lost the meaning of life and find myself unhappy, angry, reclusive and frustrated. I have done drugs, tried meditation and read books searching for meaning and happiness, which has been elusive at times. Your article helped put certain expectations of others and myself in perspective and what I need to do to achieve happiness and meaning. Thank you!

Thanks for this article. Nowadays, i do gratitude exercice in the morning, midday and before sleep. It’s help me stay more in positive thoughts. I like soo much.

I write: I am grateful for … ( 10x )

Thank you so much for this very insightful article. It really taught me a lot.

Thank you very much for the article. I think it will help me a lot. It has given me clear ideas of how I can try and attain some degree of happiness, and hence greater contentment. Happiness is important in individuals – I believe it is a key to tolerance and a stable society.

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Speech on Happiness for Students and Children

Speech on happiness.

A very warm Good Morning to all the teachers and students present in the auditorium. I am here to deliver a speech on Happiness. What do you understand by the term happiness? Is it something that depends on external factors? How can one be happy in a true way?

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Well, happiness is a term which depicts an optimistic mental state. Happiness can have different meanings for different people. Some may find happiness in earning money and be called wealthy. However, others give importance to good health for being happy. Some others may feel content having good jobs and high repute. Others may consider the peace of mind and unity with the Almighty as the source of true happiness.

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Happiness Is External or Internal?

True Happiness is something comes from deep inside. It comes from our hearts. Although we feel that material things or pleasures can make us happy, it is not true. A person who is wealthy may or may not be happy. However, a person who is happy is always wealthy.

Happiness reflects one’s positive attitude towards life. Such a person strongly believes that whatever happens is for good. Even if he fails in life, he or she doesn’t blame destiny for it. Also,  such a person doesn’t lose hope. He is always hopeful.

An optimistic person will always be happy. Moreover, such a person will be able to find pleasure even in the pain. Also, a happy person doesn’t depend on others or external factors to make him happy. He will manage to be happy even in the worst situations.

Thus, we can conclude that happiness is an internal factor. It can be achieved by self-realization. Only by seeking unity with the Almighty, can one find true happiness.

How to be Happy?

No one can make us happy. We only are responsible for our happiness. Happiness is a choice. True happiness comes when we realize our oneness with God. In order to be happy, one must be grateful to God for the many things he has given us.

We should be happy for such a precious gift called life. Furthermore, It is not necessary to have many big things to be happy. A grateful person finds happiness even in small things in life. We should look at people below us and be thankful. Also, we should be grateful for the eyes. We can see the beautiful world around us.

Moreover, we must be satisfied in life. Hence, to be happy, we should lessen the burden of desires and expectations. We should not always crave for things. If our desires would not be met, we would become sad. Thus, optimism, self-realization, gratitude, and satisfaction are the major keys to happiness.

Thus, to be happy, one must first understand what real happiness is. Otherwise, one would spend his whole life in search of happiness. Also, we must not look for any special occasion to be happy. We must find joy in each and every moment of life. Your happiness should not be dependent on people or circumstances. Your happiness is what you choose. If we are happy, we could spread happiness everywhere. Happiness adds to the beauty of a person. Also, a happy person never gets disappointed even in adverse situations. Thus, be happy and enjoy life.

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• Speech Topics For Kids
• Speech On Happiness

Speech on Happiness

Everything human beings do is aimed at happiness. The reasons for happiness, however, differ from individual to individual. Some people find happiness even in the smallest of things. Helping an old man cross the road, sharing an umbrella with someone who is getting wet, buying a meal for a hungry kid, seeing a fully-blossomed flower, spotting a rainbow, going for a ride — all of these are just some things that can make one happy.

Learn more about happiness and how to prepare a speech on happiness in this article.

Table of Contents

Top 10 quotes to use in a speech on happiness, short speech on happiness in 100 words, short speech on happiness and mindset, speech on happiness – how to be a happier person, frequently asked questions on happiness.

• “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” – George Sand.
• “Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them.” – Steve Maraboli.
• “The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage.” – Carrie Jones.
• “There is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow creatures and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort.” – Charlotte Bronte.
• “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.” – Chinese Proverb.
• “Happiness is only real when shared.” – Jon Krakauer.
• “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• “True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller.
• “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.” – James Oppenheim.
• “Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so.” – John Stuart Mill.

Sample Speeches on Happiness

A few samples of speeches on happiness are given below. Go through them, utilise the resource to prepare a speech, and try to give a happy vibe to yourself and to others.

Where is the hidden key to happiness? Have you ever tried to seek it, spent hours looking for it, and failed? It’s time to realise that the key to happiness is within you. “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” These are the words said by the Dalai Lama. Do not waste your time searching for happiness; it is not going to be with you unless you do something to get it. Happiness that a person enjoys is completely based on the efforts put by that particular person. People or nature associated with the individual may contribute to enhancing happiness, but its core is within the person itself.

“The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.” Do you agree with this statement by Eric Hoffer? Is it a thing that has to be searched? No, happiness is an emotion that has to be created by the person itself. Do not depend on others for it.

Ask yourself about the things that make you happy, list them down and try to follow them. As these are the things that make you alive, value this list of happiness more than anything else. Self-love helps in developing a positive mentality. By loving oneself, one can reduce stress and anxiety, and one can experience peacefulness in life.

Just like the words of Don Marquis, “Happiness is the interval between periods of unhappiness.” It is something that we all have to pursue to achieve. Even the happiest of individuals can feel distressed from time to time.

• Exercise regularly. Physical activities are good for mental and physical refreshment. It makes an individual stay active and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression.

Try to enjoy every little thing in your life. All the little things happening in our lives matter a lot. As Arthur Conan Doyle said, “The little things are infinitely the most important”. Accept the fact that it is the smallest things that make the biggest differences. When appreciating small things, you focus your attention even on the little things that nurture and sustain you in life.

Show gratitude in your life. By being grateful for things that an individual has in life, one will start feeling happier. Gratitude can be called a divine positive attitude; it purifies us spiritually. By being grateful, one realises about things that make one’s life worth living. A person’s gratitude can be developed through regular practice – sit down peacefully for some minutes and think about five to ten things that you are grateful for.

Try to find a sense of purpose in your life. Researchers have found that individuals with a sense of purpose in life have better well-being and a more fulfilled life. Finding the ultimate meaning of our lives is not easy, but one can develop a sense of purpose by setting goals and a direction in life.

Try to follow these tips in your life, believe in yourself and always be happy.

Where is the hidden key to happiness?

The key to happiness is within you. Just like the words of the Dalai Lama, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”

How to be a happier person?

• Try to enjoy every little thing in your life.
• Show gratitude. By being grateful for things that an individual has in life, one will start feeling happier.
• Try to find a sense of purpose. Researchers have found that individuals with a sense of purpose in life have better well-being and a more fulfilling life.

Why is self-love important for being happy?

Self-love plays a very important role in making a person happy. Self-love helps in developing a positive mentality. By loving oneself, one can reduce stress and anxiety, and can experience peacefulness in life.

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The purpose of life is to be happy

By His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The basic source of all happiness is a sense of kindness and warm-heartedness towards others. We are all the same as human beings. We are born the same way, we die the same way, and we all want to lead happy lives.

The key to happiness is peace of mind. This is not something that can be bought. Inner peace has to be cultivated by each of us from within. All our religious traditions, despite whatever philosophical differences there may be among them, carry the same message of love and warm-heartedness that is the foundation of such peace of mind.

I sometimes wish that we were more like children, who are naturally open and accepting of others. Instead, as we grow up, we fail to nurture our natural potential and our sense of fundamental human values. We get caught up in secondary differences and tend to think in terms of 'us' and 'them'. Education can change this. We need to learn to distinguish the destructive nature of emotions like anger, fear and attachment, which disturb our peace of mind, from the positive qualities of compassion that are genuine sources of happiness.

I often ask myself what the purpose of life is. I conclude that it is to be happy. We have no guarantee of what will happen in the future, but we live in hope, which is what keeps us going. There is sometimes insufficient understanding of the difference between sensory consciousness and mental consciousness. The ultimate source of happiness a mental feeling of joy, and not a wealth of material goods. The sensory pleasure material things provide is generally short-lived. Such satisfaction does little to allay anxiety and fear. On the other hand, mental joy sustains itself.

Nowadays scientists too agree that our basic human nature is compassionate and warm-hearted because that is the way our lives begin. Without our mother's love and affection we would not have survived. Since we depend on other human beings for our own happiness, it is natural to feel warm-hearted towards them. Human beings are responsive. No matter how beautiful a flower may be, it won't react to my smile. But if I smile at another human being, she or he generally smiles in return, and even animals react positively.

Today, the world is mostly focussed on external development. However, ancient Indian traditions emphasize looking within to find the real source of joy. To be happy it is our minds we must transform. This is the basis of the longstanding traditions of ahimsa, doing no harm, and karuna, wishing others to be free from suffering.

Compassion, an active concern for others' well-being, is not only part of religion, it also belongs to our lives as human beings. From compassion we develop self-confidence; that brings inner strength, allowing us to act with transparency and candour. If a person is happier, his or her family is happier; if families are happy, neighbourhoods and nations will be happy. By each of us working to transform ourselves, we can change our human way of life and make this a century of compassion.

We must continually consider the oneness of humanity, remembering that we all want to be happy. And indeed, everyone has a right to a happy life. Along the way we may be faced with problems, but we must not lose hope. We must keep up our determination without being impatient to achieve quick results.

If you agree with anything I have written here, I hope you will follow it up in your day to day lives. As I have said before, if you want others to be happy, practise compassion, if you want to be happy, practise compassion.

Originally published by India Today, September 30, 2021

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Happiness Defined

What is happiness.

Coming up with a formal definition of happiness can be tricky. After all, shouldn’t we just know it when we feel it? In fact, we often use the term to describe a range of positive emotions, including amusement, joy, pride, and contentment.

But to understand the causes and effects of happiness, researchers first need to define it. For most, the term happiness is interchangeable with “subjective well-being,” which is typically measured by asking people about how satisfied they feel with their lives (evaluative), how much positive and negative emotion they tend to feel (affective), and their sense of meaning and purpose (eudaimonic). In her 2007 book The How of Happiness , positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky elaborates, describing happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.”

However, it’s important to note that social and cultural factors also influence how we think about happiness. For example, studies by William Tov and others have found that people from cultures that embrace more collectivist ideals think about happiness more in terms of harmony and contentment, while more individualistic-minded people connect it to feelings of exuberance and joy. Happiness levels are also shaped by social groups, like families; happier people increase the happiness of people around them.

Though people around the world have different ways of thinking about happiness and perhaps even experience it in different ways, most involve feeling positive generally and about life overall.

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Why Practice It?

Many studies have found that happiness actually improves other aspects of our lives. Here is an overview of some of the good stuff that research has linked to happiness.

• Happiness is good for our health : Happier people are less likely to get sick, and they live longer.
• Happiness is associated with more satisfying romantic relationships as well as stronger friendships .
• Happier people make more money and are more productive at work .
• Happier people are more generous .
• Happier people cope better with stress and trauma .
• Happier people are more creative and are better able to see the big picture .

Of course, there will be times in life when happiness feels out of reach. That’s OK. Our unpleasant emotions are appropriate responses to difficult situations; they’re there to guide our responses and help us make meaning from challenges and adversity.

Indeed, there is a great deal of research suggesting that trying to feel or falsely express happiness in bad situations is harmful to mental and physical health—and that striving to feel constantly happy can actually diminish your overall happiness in life. Multiple studies suggest that experiencing and embracing a range of emotions, not just the positive ones, is good for our mental and physical health. It’s also important to note that injury and illness can make happiness harder to achieve. For example, concussions and long COVID are both associated with depression.

In short, happiness in life is a worthy aspiration, and there are benefits to feeling happy—but it’s not realistic or healthy to expect a constant stream of positive emotions. When you do feel unhappy, it’s important to listen to that signal. Perhaps it’s time to change what you’re doing or thinking, seek support from a friend or therapist, or work to address a challenge you are facing. During especially hard times in life, suggests the research, you might look for meaning or psychological richness in your experiences, instead of trying to force yourself to be happier.

“Aim for noticing how you really feel right at that moment—and embrace all your diverse feelings,” suggests James Baraz. This will pave the way to happiness down the line.

How Do I Cultivate It?

Our happiness is shaped by genetics, life experience, social forces,  and culture, as well as individual choices. While your control over most of those domains is limited, there are steps you can take on a personal level to increase your chances of experiencing happiness in life. And all of us can act to change culture and address inequalities that affect happiness on a collective level.

Here are some of the keys to happiness identified by researchers, along with some specific, science-based activities for strengthening skills of happiness, in ourselves and in society.

Build relationships: Perhaps the dominant finding from happiness research is that social connections are fundamental. Try these practices to strengthen trust, mutual support, and affection in your relationships:

• Best Possible Self for Relationships : Imagine your relationship going as well as it possibly could.
• Mental Subtraction of Relationships : Visualize what your life would be like without the people around you.
• Gift of Time : Invest in your relationships by spending quality time with people you care about.
• Learn more ways to strengthen relationships on our website Greater Good in Action.

Practice different kinds of appreciation. Life can be hard, because negative events and emotions are inevitable. But we can bolster our resilience by shining the light of our attention on the good things.

• Savoring Walk : Take a walk and pay attention to positive feelings and experiences, to deepen and extend them.
• Gratitude : Count your blessings on a regular basis, whether by writing a letter, keeping a journal, or just saying thanks.
• Time Capsule : Create a collection of positive experiences to surprise your future self.
• Mental Subtraction of Positive Events : Visualize what your life would be like without the good things you have.

Pay attention. Studies find that people who practice mindfulness —the moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and external circumstances—score higher on measures of happiness, and lower on measures of anxiety and distress.

• Mindful Breathing : This meditation is the most basic way to cultivate mindful attention.
• Raisin Meditation : You can put your busy life on pause by spending a few minutes feeling and tasting a raisin in your mouth.
• Self-Compassion Break : Stressed? Self-critical? Take just a moment to speak kindly to yourself.
• Get more mindfulness exercises on Greater Good in Action.

Practice kindness. Researchers believe generosity feels good because it highlights and incentivizes positive social interactions and strengthens the social bonds that support happiness. Here are some ways to be kind.

• Do nice things for other people: Neuroscience research shows that when we do nice things for others, our brains light up in areas associated with pleasure and reward.
• Compassion Meditation : This meditation fosters feelings of compassion and concern for others by training you to notice suffering and strive to alleviate it.
• Spend money on other people: Similarly, research by Elizabeth Dunn and her colleagues finds that people report greater happiness when they spend money on others than when they spend it on themselves.
• Learn more ways to practice kindness at Greater Good in Action.

Move your body—and then rest. Exercise isn’t just good for our bodies; it’s good for our happiness. So is sleep!

• Get physical: Studies show that regular physical activity increases happiness and self-esteem, reduces anxiety and stress, and can even lift symptoms of depression. “Exercise may very well be the most effective instant happiness booster of all activities,” writes Sonja Lyubomirsky in The How of Happiness .
• Spend time in nature : People who are more connected to nature tend to experience more positive emotions, vitality, and life satisfaction.
• Then get rest: Research has consistently linked lower sleep to lower happiness . What’s more, a study of more than 900 women, led by psychologist Daniel Kahneman, found that getting just one more hour of sleep each night might have a greater effect on happiness than getting a $60,000 raise.

Address inequalities. More egalitarian countries consistently rank among the happiest in the world—and there is evidence that economic, racial, and gender inequality hurts the happiness of disadvantaged groups . Fortunately, there are steps we can take to address these inequalities.

• Remove barriers to voting. Inequality depresses the vote of low-income people, which reduces their political power. You can help address that situation by supporting organizations dedicated to voter mobilization and reform.
• Work against racial prejudice and xenophobia. There are many research-tested ways to address racial inequality , on individual and collective levels.
• Work for gender and LGBTQ+ equality. There are also evidence-based ways to reduce inequality between men and women, and to expand and protect the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
• Support efforts to address poverty. “Economic wealth matters across cultures,” says researcher William Tov. “In every culture, wealthier people generally are happier than less wealthy people.” Fortunately, volunteering and political activism—or more specifically, the sense of meaning and purpose those involve— seem to be good for both mental and physical health . If we can help our society address poverty, says the evidence, then everyone benefits .

Of course, happiness-boosting activities don’t work equally well for everyone . Understanding yourself better can help you choose practices and exercises that align with your personality, your situation, and your goals.

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Definition of happiness noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• happy adjective (≠ unhappy)
• happily adverb (≠ unhappily)
• happiness noun (≠ unhappiness)
• to find true happiness
• Fame did not bring her happiness.
• the pursuit of happiness
• Her eyes shone with happiness.
• Their grandchildren are a constant source of happiness.

Take your English to the next level

The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

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What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

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• work-life balance