I have come to realise that happiness which we all chase in different ways has a way of shaping our pursuits, dreams, and some of the time, who we are which is our identity. But what really is happiness? Is it just a temporary feeling of joy, a profound sense of satisfaction, or something else completely?
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During my investigation, I found out that a few rationalists, researchers and even writers have wrangled about the true essence of happiness for centuries and each of these individuals had to come out to offer their own viewpoint on if happiness is a journey, a destination, or even a little bit of both.
From one angle, happiness is seen as a journey as it is the process of finding joy in little things like the warmth of the sun on your skin, the laughter of friends and family, and the contentment you get for a deserved victory.
Now, this point of view proposes that happiness is actually a part of our every day lives as it is not something we arrive at but something we create and experience along the way. Going by this, we will find out that happiness in this perspective is actually just about finding joy in the process of growing, and even in the challenges we face everyday of our lives.
On the other hand, some set of persons see happiness as a destination just like a particular objective we want to accomplish or state of being we keep striving to reach. This could be accomplishing a dream you have worked hard for so many years, finding the perfect partner, or even reaching a milestone professionally.
In this perspective, happiness is simply the light at the end of the tunnel and the reward for our efforts and struggles. Some persons see it as a place of satisfaction and fulfillment where our wants and reality align perfectly. Now, this perspective is sure to fuel our motivation and give us a sense of direction as it has a way of compelling us to thrust forward through life's obstacles toward that coveted state of bliss.
However, defining happiness as either a journey or a destination might be as well shortsighted. What if happiness actually encompasses elements of both? John Stuart Mill, a renowned professor suggested that happiness is the byproduct of a life well-lived, and not the direct result of seeking after it. Now this perspective proposes that happiness might actually be found in the balance between enjoying the journey and celebrating the turning points along the way.
Modern psychology also offered insight to this debate as well. It suggested that happiness is a combination of life satisfaction, positive feelings, and a sense of meaning. Now, this definition infers that happiness can be both a journey and a destination as it is in the every day minutes of joy and the overarching fulfillment with one’s life.
So, is happiness a journey or a destination? To me, I think happiness is both a journey and a destination and not one or the other at the same time. Happiness can be the minutes of delight we discover in our regular lives, the fulfillment of accomplishing our objectives, and the sense of reason we infer from our activities and connections. It might not be something we can characterize in outright terms, as its meaning can move and alter over the course of our lives.
In the end, the pursuit of happiness is deeply personal and ever-evolving as it reminds us to be present, to appreciate the now while also dreaming of the future. It educates us the value of our struggles and the beauty of our achievements. Now, weather we sea happiness as a journey, a destination or a bit of both, whats most important is that we keep searching for it in whatever form it may take and as long as it takes us.
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