Unlocking Happiness

Creating Joy in Everyday Life

Happiness is a universal desire—who hasn't met someone who prefers misery over joy? While some people may appear perpetually unhappy, I believe that they simply haven’t discovered how to find happiness.

Can you define happiness? Historically, it has been viewed as a form of luck, where only a fortunate few are happy, or as a reward for hard work and moral living. The etymology of the word "happiness" is tied to the idea of luck or coincidence, as reflected in the German word "Glücklich," which also includes the term for luck, "Glück."

Today, many seek happiness as a goal to be achieved through milestones—like promotions, degrees, or jobs. I was once among them, thinking I would be happy after landing a promotion or finishing my MBA. While these accomplishments can bring a temporary high, they often lead back to our baseline state. This pursuit can lead to frustration and loneliness.

For a long time, I believed that success leads to happiness, but I’ve come to realize it’s the other way around: happiness fosters success. When we feel good, we do our best work. Have you ever excelled while dreading what you were doing? Likely not. We thrive when we feel productive, passionate, and engaged.

There are various definitions of happiness. Some view it as the absence of sorrow, while others associate it with specific activities—like boating, for instance. The most important insight I’ve gained is that happiness is something we can create for ourselves in the present moment. It’s less about our achievements and more about how we live each day.

If happiness is an emotion or state of being, it is largely within our control. It suggests that happiness resides within us, rather than being an external reward.

Prof. Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar defines happiness as "whole person well-being" or "wholebeing." With scientific research across many academic fields, he developed the SPIRE model to operationalize happiness. Each letter represents an aspect of well-being that contributes to our overall happiness: Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, Emotions wellbeing (2021).

As someone trained in engineering and business operations, I am excited by the prospect of operationalizing happiness. No vision can be realized without breaking it down into actionable steps. For those of us prone to worry and stress, this model can serve as a valuable tool for cultivating well-being.

In reality, not every day is filled with joy. It’s easy to view a job as mundane and dull. However, there are aspects of our work that can bring us meaning. What tasks do you enjoy? How can you incorporate more of those into your day?

You may have more control over your daily routine than you think. By designing your day to include activities that spark joy, you can create a more fulfilling experience.

Happiness is an ongoing journey that involves both self-discovery and proactive choices. Let’s take control of our happiness today.

Notes:

Ben-Shahar, T. (2021, May 11). Happier, No matter what: Cultivating hope, resilience, and purpose in hard times. The Experiment.