Happiness in today’s world

By Klaus Döring

Happiness in today’s world is a complex, evolving state increasingly defined by mental well-being, meaningful relationships, and resilience rather than just material success. While often seen as elusive because of modern pressures, it is considered a manageable, intentional state of contentment and purpose. Genuine happiness stems from inner peace, while many struggle by equating it with constant pleasure.

As society pressures individuals to be happy, this “new religion” of constant positivity can create an impossible, exhausting task, leading to cynicism.

Feeling that the conditions of your life are good. Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people. Feeling that you have accomplished, or will accomplish, what you want in life. Feeling satisfied with your life. Feeling positive more than negative.

Happiness is a state of mind. Specifically, it is a state of “well-being and contentment.”

But the definition can be tricky, and assumptions about the word can cause confusion. Many don’t even realize that learning how to be happy is something that can be intentionally practiced. Some people, when they hear the word “happiness,” assume it refers to an emotion such as pleasure or joy. For them, it is what people feel in the immediate here and now.

This is the reason some people say, “Don’t pursue happiness, seek joy. Happiness is fickle and fading, joy remains forever.”

But this short-term definition of happiness is not how everyone understands the word. Some define it to mean long-term satisfaction.

In fact, when I speak of experiencing happiness in life, I am not thinking of short-term emotions at all. I think of a quality of living — a much longer-term view of the word.

Both definitions are understood to be correct and speak of different realities.

But are they really that different? I don’t think so.

After all, a long-term experience of life satisfaction is almost certainly made up of many short-term feelings of joy and pleasure. Does that mean every day is a great day with no trials, temptations, or downturns? Certainly not. But it does mean that when we look back at the many seasons of life, we can look back satisfied at how we navigated them.

The long-term feeling of life satisfaction is most experienced when we embrace the emotion of joy in the here and now.

And we accomplish that by taking steps each day to be happy.

What makes you feel happy now? Doing something you’re good at, such as cooking or dancing, is a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement. Try to avoid things that seem enjoyable at the time but make you feel worse afterward, such as drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food.

Why is being happy important? Experiencing happiness is important for our emotional and physical health. A stronger sense of happiness and well-being has been shown to lead to better relationships, increase social connection and contribution to the lives of others, and contribute to healthier physical well-being.

Is being happy the most important thing in life? 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.

Am I happy? Yes. Living in the Philippines for almost 28 years for good, I learned to be happy. Even during hard times. Filipinos are generally a happy people. They can smile whatever the situation. Their happy-go-lucky nature and positive mindset allow them to bounce back from the direst circumstances, from disasters, from wars, and surely from today’s global situation.

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Questions, comments, or suggestions? Email me at doringklaus@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit one of my websites: www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.