Happiness is defined as a state of well-being and contentment.
One biblical view of happiness reads, Happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15 KJV
Important points in happiness:
Happiness is a state, not a trait, it is not long-lasting, not a permanent feature or personality trait, but a more fleeting, changeable state.
Happiness is equated with feeling pleasure or contentment, happiness is not to be confused with joy, ecstasy, bliss, or other more intense feelings.
Happiness can be either feeling or showing, happiness is not necessarily an internal or external experience, but can be both.
Happiness is a global assessment of life, all facets, recollection of pass emotional experiences and an aggregation of multiple emotional reaction from time to time.
Meaning of self-happiness “Self-happiness” is 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.
To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26 NIV
Great News: If we put our trust in God, He will grant us happiness and we don’t need to worry about anything. A person who trust in God and believes in Him will always be in God’s good grace unlike the person who does not believe and go against His teaching.
Philosophy view 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 according to (Paul, 2015).
I believe that a person can only find true happiness when they put their trust in the true and living God. God is the true source of happiness, hope, wisdom and strength. If we are in His favour we will always have these things, this is His promise.
Why is Happiness So Important? I agree with June Silny at Happify as she outlines 14 answers to the question, “What’s so great about happiness.”
1. Happy people get sick less often and experience fewer symptoms when they do get sick.
2. Happy people are more successful in multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health.
3. Happy people have more friends and a better support system.
4. Happy people donate more to charity (and giving money to charity makes you happy, too).
5. Happy people are more helpful and more likely to volunteer—which also makes you happier!
6. Happy people have an easier time navigating through life since optimism eases pain, sadness, and grief.
7. Happy people have a positive influence on others and encourage them to seek happiness as well, which can act as reinforcement.
8. Happy people engage in deeper and more meaningful conversations.
9. Happy people smile more, which is beneficial to your health.
10. Happy people exercise more often and eat more healthily.
11. Happy people are happy with what they have rather than being jealous of others.
Here are some bible verses that demonstrate true happiness quoted from the NIV: Psalms168:8-9 Philippians 4:4 Nehemiah 8:10 John 15:11 Psalms 19:8
Conclusion:
Seeking more is not found to be the secret of happiness, but in developing the capacity to enjoy what you have, to find yourself and think for yourself. True happiness is to understand our duties towards God and human kind. To enjoy the present without depending on the future but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is abundantly sufficient.