The subject of happiness has always been discussed. It is placed as the great human longing, but it is accepted that few get to know it. What is happiness? Is it really possible to achieve it? Is there one or more possible congratulations?
Although it is not possible to cover such a transcendent and vast subject in a brief and subjective writing, I have wanted to look at it, offering a simple vision, and probably useful.
As a definition, it can be said that in its most basic sense, happiness is a state of intimate and personal satisfaction, fulfillment or rejoicing, characterized by its benign effects in all the orders of our lives.
Rather, unhappiness would be conceivable as a limiting internal state, manifested in what we think and do. Generally, unhappiness is associated with the frustration experienced by the absence of love, or recognition and achievement.
To facilitate understanding, I will say that happiness has several levels or links.
I think there are at least five recognizable levels of happiness, achievable through certain access mechanisms. These are: sensory happiness, emotional happiness, material happiness, and spiritual happiness. I explain:
According to this model that I propose, the first level of happiness is basic and related to child behavior, and can be obtained in the form of pleasure through the five senses that we typically know.
Here, we mean gratification that comes from pleasing, instincts, primal needs, and purely sensory desires. Examples of this type of happiness are: the pleasure obtained when eating.
It is a primary level of happiness that changes with circumstances. It is almost always fleeting.
After this first type, there is emotional happiness, which is related to the affections and interpersonal relationships that we share.
Those moments in which we receive attention and love are for us happy moments, although not eternal. Therefore, they fade easily. Furthermore, their existence depends on what others provide us.
The third level, which I have called "material happiness", is based on the achievements and the meaning that we attribute to them by culture or social agreement.
Graduating from high school or college, getting a job or job promotion, having a "beautiful" partner, and other accomplishments that we perceive to be consistent with our values, criteria, or beliefs would enter this level.
Since it is feasible that what is important to us today may not be tomorrow, we are also facing a passing level of happiness.
There is another level of happiness much more complex, that arises as a result of maturity and experience; it is related to mental independence. At this level happiness is not based on what you get materially, but on the ability to enjoy whatever you have.
At this level, there is less and less dependence on social applause, since silence, harmony and peace are sought and valued more; Stereotypes have been broken and a lifestyle of their own has been found that is comfortable, relaxed and self-controlled.
There is an integrated vision of man and nature and everything and everyone are valued. It is a level at which the animal part of our nature has begun to be sold.
Contact with others is clear, assertive and responsible, logically derived from a high self-esteem that reveals coherence between thoughts, words and works.
Whoever comes here has won the battle of monotony, confusion and boredom. Potentials are properly recognized and used.
There is presence without imposition; wisdom without ostentation. Strength and humility. When we see someone like that, we feel attracted to or harshly confronted. They are mirrors that show us our powers and miseries.
The fifth and final level of happiness is that of self-transcendence.
It is the level that the great spirit gurus and self-realized saints have reached. Each of your thoughts, words, and actions are fully conscious.
They have managed to go beyond what the senses capture and have managed to contact the deepest of their natures. For them, happiness is only possible in integration, service, compassion, and healing for all, without exception.
They do not believe in death and their link with nature is reverential. They have discarded all vestiges of selfishness and violence from their lives, so their mere presence is a healing and inspiring balm: Characters such as: Buddha, Lao Tse, Jesus, Babji, Yogananda, are examples of this level of happiness.
And as for the question of whether it is possible to be happy, the answer is Yes !, although the important thing is to ask the type of happiness that we really want to achieve. Because to tell the truth, not all require the same work. Thanks for reading me.
