Happiness. That elusive butterfly we all chase, hoping it will land gently on our shoulders. Some find it in success, others in solitude, and a select few in their stock portfolios—until the market crashes, of course. But what is happiness, really? Is it a feeling, a destination, a skill, or a state of mind? Is it found in Teslas or friendships, money or mindfulness, spa retreats or spiritual enlightenment? Or is it simply a well-cooked meal and a quiet moment before your phone buzzes again?
CEOs and economists spend their lives debating the GDP of nations, but what about their GHP—Gross Happiness Product? Bhutan has been measuring happiness for decades, yet most of us are still figuring out whether it comes from fancy titles or free time. In corporate boardrooms, happiness is often confused with year-end bonuses, appraisals, and a corner office with a view. The modern workplace is designed for efficiency, not joy. Employees are given performance targets, but where are the happiness KPIs? Imagine a world where companies offered “happiness bonuses” instead of just performance incentives. Instead of “Work from home on Fridays,” we’d have, “Take a mental health break on Mondays.” Productivity would skyrocket, and so would job satisfaction. But alas, capitalism is built on cutting deals and bottom lines, not happiness.
Psychologists say happiness is 50% genetics, 10% circumstances, and 40% mindset. So, if you were born into a family of worriers, congratulations—you’re halfway to anxiety. The remaining 50%? Well, that’s where the magic lies.
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Interestingly, social media has redefined happiness. A vacation is no longer about relaxation but about perfectly curated Instagram posts. If there’s no picture of your blueberry pancake, did you even have breakfast? If your vacation doesn’t include a beach sunset selfie, did you really go? The pressure to appear happy has overtaken the need to actually be happy. And let’s not forget consumerism’s role in happiness. Advertisers have convinced us that happiness can be bought—the right car, the right watch, the right perfume. But as the saying goes, `Money can’t buy happiness’, but it can sure buy a yacht or a private jet or a bauble or two.
Indians have a complex relationship with happiness. We seek it in chai and cricket, Bollywood and biryani, but we also have an unparalleled ability to worry about things far beyond our control—global recessions, the neighbours’ children’s exam results, and why Sharma ji’s son is earning more than ours. Our parents, the original philosophers, gave us the simplest wisdom:
- Happiness is getting admission into an IIT or IIM.
- Happiness is finding a life partner chosen by astrological configurations that function like NASA-level algorithms.
- Happiness is seeing your child get married, buy a house, and produce grandchildren—all before the age of 30.
And yet, if you ask these very parents if they are happy, they’ll shake their heads and sigh. “What happiness? These days, children are so busy!”
Neuroscience tells us that small joys release dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin—the holy trinity of happiness. It’s why a plate of hot samosas, a dog’s wagging tail, or your boss taking unexpected leave or bringing a smile to someone’s face can brighten your day. In fact, science proves that happiness is contagious. A smile can trigger another smile, creating a ripple effect.
We often forget that happiness and health are two sides of the same coin. You can have all the wealth in the world, but if your back creaks louder than your boardroom chair, joy feels distant. A balanced life isn’t just about financial success but physical and mental well-being too. The irony is, we spend our youth chasing money at the cost of health, only to spend that money later trying to regain it. Happiness can’t be found in late-night emails and stress-induced ulcers; it’s in a good night’s sleep, a morning walk, and a body that doesn’t need a warranty extension every few years. After all, what’s the point of a five-star lifestyle if you’re too unwell to enjoy the buffet?
Here’s where most of us get it wrong: we treat happiness like a pension plan, deferring it for later. Believing things like – “I’ll be happy when I get a promotion” or “I’ll be happy when I buy that dream house” or perhaps “I’ll be happy when I retire.” But happiness doesn’t come gift-wrapped with a milestone. Happiness is not a future event; it’s a present choice.
Ask a child what makes them happy, and the answer will be simple: an ice cream, cartoons, finding shells on a beach. Ask an adult, and the answer is a complicated mix of ambitions, financial stability, and societal expectations. Somewhere along the way, we stopped living in the moment and started living for the future.
If you ask people what truly makes them happy, the answers are rarely extravagant:
- A lazy Sunday morning with a cup of chai
- A heartfelt conversation with an old friend
- A walk in the park, free of notifications and deadlines
- The smell of the first rain on parched earth
- A cricket match where India wins (preferably against Pakistan, for added joy)
These moments cost nothing. And yet, they are the ones we chase all our lives.
Let’s recognise that happiness isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. It isn’t found in grand achievements alone but in the small, everyday moments that shape our lives. True success lies not just in financial wealth but in emotional well-being, not just in reaching milestones but in savouring the journey. Happiness isn’t something to be postponed for the future—it’s something to be nurtured in the present. A world that prioritizes happiness is a world that thrives. And perhaps, the real measure of success is not how much we’ve accumulated, but how much joy we’ve created—for ourselves and those around us.
