I started an online course on The Science of Happiness out of interest what the science behind it is.
One of the first questions we (approx. 100k students) were asked was:
How do you define happiness?
Surely everyone has an idea what happiness is, right?
I noticed that I don't. What is happiness? It is the state in which we are happy. So when am I happy? What are the situations that make me happy?
I am happy when...
* I see somebody that I missed
* I achieve something I have been working for (Example: seeing my master thesis finished on the table)
* I am able to help someone out
* I love/care for somebody and feel loved/cared for in return
* I hold that gadget in my hands that I wanted (or is that excitement?)
So, if I fulfill as many as possible of those things, do I feel happiness? Am I happy?
In the introduction of the course we learn that there are different ideas of happiness. While the western view of happiness seems to involve achievements and experience as part of happiness, the eastern view talk more about leaving your desires behind and gaining happiness through helping others (human connections play a bigger role).
So, what do you guys think? How do you define happiness?