Definition Essay On Happiness

Happiness

“Are you happy?” Is a famous question that I often hear people ask when starting conversations with others. This seems like such a simple question to answer but in reality, the idea of happiness is incredibly complex. People will probably answer yes right away when first being asked this question. Often, when being asked, people will think of how they are currently feeling. However, I believe that there are many key factors that go in to determining if someone is truly happy and what leads to a good life. I have come to the conclusion that the eudaimonic form of happiness is what will lead me to living the happiest and best life.

The conception of the good life is a topic that was discussed and defined as having a life that was a happy one. I think the form of happiness that will be the most fulfilling will be, Eudaimonia. This term is defined as “human flourishing.” Many different philosophers have stated their viewpoints on what is needed to be completed in order to achieve this form of happiness. I have found myself

most relating to Aristotle and Seneca and what they have said about this happiness. First, Aristotle states that every decision that we make is made because we believe that it will lead us to happiness. This has enabled me to come to the conclusion, that every decision I have made in my life has been made in the hopes of achieving happiness. He also claims that there are two types of virtues that a person must have in order to attain happiness. The first one is being intellectual. To understand this better I told myself that in order for myself to achieve happiness I had to have a knowledge on what I wanted for my life. The second virtue he states, is that a person must have are morals. I have realized that in order to really change yourself into a better person, you have to make certain things a habit. If I was feeling generous one day and greedy the next, I have not been a good person. In my own experiences, I have found that when I am being morally right, I feel happier then I would if I was doing certain things that I knew were morally wrong (Cahn, Vitrano 2008 19-25).
While continuing to discover more information about eudaimonia, I found myself relating to Seneca and his viewpoints on determining how to have a good life.

What I really found interesting is that he claimed that we cannot imitate others in order to find our path to happiness. A person has to follow their own path to find their happiness. Happiness is inside of you and you are the person that determines if you are happy. He also says that a happy life is one that is at peace with its surroundings. Being at peace with your surroundings means that you will have a sound mind, courage, energy, fortitude, and the ability to appreciate good fortune but also being able to not expect good fortune at all times (Cahn, Vitrano 2008 41-43). A perfect example of someone who has the ability to be at peace with their surroundings are nuns/sisters. They always seem so happy and peaceful. I look up to them and wish I could find that type of

happiness.
I believe that the eudaimonic approach is the best way to live the good life because it has a lifelong effect. The other forms of happiness, that were examined in this class, were happiness as pleasure and happiness as satisfaction. These two forms of happiness are not fulfilling. They don’t have any substance to them. I believe that happiness is based off how you look at your life. If you are a negative Nancy, then you will never be able to enjoy life and all of the amazing things that happen in it.
Before coming to college, I always heard the phrase “I want to have the college experience.” I think people are being naive when they say this because what they typically mean by this statement is that they want to have fun and party. Yes, college is a place where you can have fun, party, and make new friends, but I believe that the most important thing that college offers is getting an education. For my first year in college, I have realized what I want to be when I am older. I have also matured immensely. I have realized that I am at college because I want to become a lawyer. I want to be successful. Now, saying all of this, I have found myself participating in things that make me happy. Some things don’t always make me happy in that specific moment but those decisions that I made will eventually lead to my greater purpose. My greater purpose will bring my more happiness. I often find myself not being particularly bothered when I am missing out on events that are happening within my sorority, especially when I distinguish that those events will only bring me happiness for a short amount of time. I don’t feel the urge to go and experience certain things in college because I was able to experience similar things in high school. Personally, I am not bothered by other people having fun when I know that I am working towards my future self.
During my senior year in high school, I gained ten pounds. I found myself being unhappy with myself especially since I am working on becoming a personal trainer. I love working out and being physically fit so when I gained those ten pounds in high school, I was always very critical of myself. I was trying to influence people to feel better about themselves and make changes in their lives but I couldn’t even commit to those healthy changes. However, coming to college I have lost that weight and I have found that I do not have to do what other people are participating in. Since realizing my true self, I have been an overall happier person and have been able to be a better personal trainer. I also realized what is important to me. Yes, when I realize that I am not always included in things, I do get a little sad, but that sadness is quickly replaced by excitement for what the future holds for me. Relating this to what I learned throughout the course of the semester, this is a perfect example of what Seneca stated as what we need to do in order to reach our happiness. He states that we need to do “what is best to do, not what is most commonly done” (Happiness, 42) and that is exactly what I am doing.
There are many personal elements that go into determining my happiness. I have come to an understanding that one of the most dramatic elements in my life, that has brought me never ending profound happiness, which is my faith in God. I believe that God comes before everyone else. There have been times in my life when I haven’t put God first and it has resulted in me feeling empty inside. When my faith has been struggling, I have found myself as an extremely unhappy person. When I am not close to God, I begin to put my own problems ahead of everyone around me. My issues, worries, fears, etc., tend to come before everyone else. I start to become unhappy with my life and I start to see myself repeatedly asking “Why me?” Well, when I eventually open my eyes, I find that God is leading me on a path. I understand that I have to go through certain struggles in my life, in order to be fully happy when I am older. When I am struggling with my faith, I find myself in difficult situations and feel myself drowning, but as soon as I start to reach out to God, I feel a sense of comfort and guidance. I have realized that having a relationship with God doesn’t just happen, you have to work at the relationship every day. He is what leads me to my flourishing. He is what encourages me to become a moral and better version of myself.
In order for myself to reach the eduaimonic happiness, I am following my goals and dreams. I am doing what makes me happy. However, I believe that it is not all about me. In order to achieve this eudaimonic form of happiness, I have to put others before myself. I have been making an effort with enforcing new habits which include being more friendly and generous. I am also going to be following my dream and become a lawyer. This will enable me to pursue my dreams in life and reach my highest potential.
In order to reach the good life and true happiness, I have found that there are special elements in my life that give me my sense of purpose. These include my religion and my personal experiences. These elements have given me the knowledge of what will bring me happiness. I believe that the eudaimonic approach to happiness is what leads people to create the best versions of themselves. Happiness is inside of you and you determine your happiness when faced with situations that will make or break you.