Example Of Happiness Essay

Happiness is one of those words that is difficult to give a definition too because there is no a straightforward answer to the question, what exactly happiness is. It is possible to say that happiness has an individual meaning for every person: for some people it is a pleasure, life prosperity, while for others it is an antonym to depression and sorrow.
However, if to consider happiness philosophically, it is possible to say there are two philosophical senses of happiness: the first one is a state of mind, and the second is well-being or life that goes well for a person. In regards to the first one, happiness relates to specific mental states including pleasure, satisfaction and positive emotional condition. Thus, in this sense happiness exists in a person’s head and is not dependant on external circumstances. An individual with such specific mental states are happy and satisfied regardless of what is happening around him. In terms of the second sense, happiness can be defined as well-being, flourishing or utility. In this sense happiness concerns what benefits a person and what makes his or her life better and serves interests. In contrast to the first sense, here happiness is more dependent on external circumstances because exactly they improve a person’s life and contribute to well-being. These circumstances might include good health, stable work, material benefits and etc.
As for me, I would definitely say that I am a happy person now. However, for me happiness is not one of those aspects of it mentioned above, but rather a combination of both of them because though it is important to have a certain state of mind in order to feel good and satisfied with your life, it is impossible to be happy if there is no well-being an certain external circumstances.