What does "happiness" actually mean, and why do we strive for it?

Happiness is a term we are all familiar with, but at the same time it raises many questions. What exactly does "happiness" mean? Is it a state we can achieve permanently, or is it more of a fleeting moment? And why do we constantly strive to make our lives happier? In 2018, Herbert Grönemeyer described "Sekundenglück" (seconds of happiness) in his song of the same name: "It’s the unique thousandth-of-a-second moments — that’s what you call happiness in a second." We try to explore the question of what happiness really means and why it awakens such a strong desire in us to achieve it.

A short definition of happiness

Happiness means something different to all of us. For some, it is the feeling of fulfilment that comes with achieving one's goals. For others, it can be the simple, carefree feeling of joy in a moment of life, perhaps when spending time with friends, during a beautiful sunset or when achieving a personal success. Basically, we can say that we often experience happiness as a state in which we feel content, balanced and emotionally fulfilled.

And why do we strive for happiness?

The search for happiness is deeply rooted within us. Even as children, we seek moments of joy and fulfilment, and this need remains with us into adulthood. But why is that?

1. Biological basis: Our brains are programmed to seek out positive experiences. Happiness hormones such as dopamine and serotonin ensure that we feel good when we experience something pleasant. These biochemical processes are part of our nature and drive us to constantly seek out moments of happiness.
2. Emotional fulfilment: Happiness contributes to our emotional well-being. When we are happy, we feel balanced, content and motivated. This state also helps us to cope better with stress, stay focused and overcome challenges. A fulfilling life is closely linked to a feeling of joy and contentment. 
3. Social pressure: In many cultures, happiness is seen as the ultimate goal in life. We often see images on social media of people who seem to lead "perfect" and therefore “happy” lives. This social pressure can lead us to see happiness as something we must achieve in order to live successfully or "correctly". 
4. Search for meaning: In contrast to short-term pleasures, many of us seek a deeper, lasting happiness that comes from a fulfilled and meaningful life. People strive to do something significant and leave something behind in the world, whether in their career, family or social environment. This meaning gives life a deeper value and promotes long-term happiness.

Happiness in the professional context

In the professional environment, happiness is often associated with success, recognition or a fulfilling job. But it's not just about achieving career goals. True happiness in working life comes when we feel that our work is in line with our values and goals. Those who do work that makes a difference and has a positive impact on their own lives and the lives of others often experience a higher level of satisfaction. The feeling of contributing to something meaningful is very fulfilling for many people. 

Career coaching can help you find your own "happy state" at work. Sometimes it is small changes in our thinking, actions or the way we approach our tasks that lead us to greater fulfilment and satisfaction. But perhaps the process will also lead us to a new job where we can make a difference and develop our potential. After all, happiness often arises when we are allowed to be authentic and work in an environment that matches our values and personality.

Can we actively promote happiness?

There are various ways in which we can take our own happiness into our own hands. Here are a few examples:

• Practise gratitude: By regularly focusing on the beautiful things in our lives, we can develop a deeper sense of contentment. One way to do this is to keep a “gratitude journal”, in which we write down three positive things every day. 
• Allow yourself to be happy: We often block our own happiness because we think we don't deserve it or because it seems selfish. But we should definitely allow ourselves the right to happiness, just as we wish it for everyone else. 
• Set meaningful goals: Striving for goals that are truly important to us ensures long-term fulfilment. Coaching can help us to identify these goals and discover what we want to strive for and what gives us meaning. 
• Maintain good relationships: Valuable person-to-person relationships are an important factor in our happiness. We find these in all social structures, be it family, sports clubs, circles of friends or work. They give us stability and security, which in turn can trigger feelings of happiness.

Happiness is an individual journey

There are countless sayings, such as: "There is no path to happiness, happiness is the path" or "Happiness is a decision". 

Happiness is more than a goal, it is a lifelong journey. Sometimes it is something we experience in a single moment, but often it is also an ongoing process. For a society that moves forward at breathtaking speed and wants to see (good) results immediately, a process that takes years or decades is a nightmare. But we cannot "command" happiness. We can go in search of it if we consciously examine our own needs, goals and values in order to achieve that state of "happiness" that truly fulfils us.