Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment—often described as a deep sense of satisfaction with life, joy, or inner peace. It's not just a fleeting emotion like pleasure, but a more lasting sense of fulfillment.
There are different ways to understand happiness, depending on the perspective:
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1. Psychological View:
Psychologists often divide happiness into two key components:
Hedonic happiness – Based on pleasure, enjoyment, and the absence of pain.
Eudaimonic happiness – Based on living a meaningful, purposeful life and realizing one's potential.
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2. Philosophical View:
Aristotle called it eudaimonia, the highest human good, achieved by living virtuously and fulfilling your potential.
Other traditions (e.g., Buddhism) see happiness as inner peace, detachment from craving, and freedom from suffering.
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3. Scientific View:
Modern research connects happiness with factors like:
Strong relationships
Gratitude
Purposeful work
Physical and mental health
Financial security (up to a point—after basic needs