Happiness is the sense of pleasure and positive evaluation that one gets from life. It’s an essential human need that all humans strive to achieve.
Many of the things that might seem to make people happy do not, however. For instance, increased wealth and income are only a minor predictor of happiness.
A Full Tank
Whether on the beach in Bali or fitting into that old pair of jeans, happiness is a state of deep contentment and joy. This is what people around the world strive for in order to feel good about themselves and their lives. Happiness also carries health benefits and can help with career success, social connections and overall well-being.
Philosophers, theologians and psychologists have all sought to define happiness. Thomas Jefferson put happiness on a par with life and liberty in the Declaration of Independence and many countries conduct regular public surveys to measure national well-being.
Various theories have been proposed to account for human well-being, including hedonic calculus and utilitarianism. Others have emphasized intrinsic values like temperance (self-regulation), prudence, forgiveness and humility and transcendence (religion/spirituality). Attempts to construct hybrid theories of well-being risk confusing the issues, since the components of a hybrid approach may matter for different reasons and they all get referred to as “happiness” in ordinary usage.
A Half Tank
Many people think happiness is like a car’s gas tank—it’s hard to drive far on an empty one. That’s why it’s important to refuel often with things that bring you joy. It can mean everything from enjoying a delicious meal with friends to laughing at a funny joke or spending time in nature.
The hedonic theory of happiness distinguishes between pleasures and non-pleasures. It also explains how life satisfaction matters for human well-being. It was a major concern for Thomas Jefferson when he included the “pursuit of happiness” as a fundamental right in the Declaration of Independence.
But some worry that hedonism conflates happiness with euphoria, which is temporary and short-lived. That’s why some argue that it is better to focus on the virtues of character, such as prudence, forgiveness, humility and modesty. They believe these virtues promote long-term happiness, even if they aren’t always pleasant in the moment. This type of happiness is also called “contentment.” This includes a sense of peacefulness and balance, and is related to good health, career success, strong social connections and more.
Filling Your Tank
When your tank gets close to empty, it’s a good idea to take the time to carefully fill it. You can do this by removing the tank from your mod and holding it upside down (holding a paper towel under the mouthpiece to catch any errant drips may also be helpful). Twist the bottom hardware counterclockwise until it comes off, then carefully screw it back on, being careful not to cross the threads. Fill the tank with a few drops of water at a time, being careful not to disturb the substrate as you do so. Repeat as needed.
It may seem relatively unimportant to always have a full tank of gas, but it can very much impact your life.