Happiness is not just an external reward or a set of material goods, but a dynamic and deeply personal state that arises when our living conditions align with our internal expectations.

The Essence of Happiness

Happiness is not just an external reward or a set of material goods, but a dynamic and deeply personal state that arises when our living conditions align with our internal expectations. For a long time, scientists and thinkers have pointed out that our sense of happiness is formed by the way we perceive the world around us. If the circumstances surrounding us correspond to our notion of a decent life, then we confidently affirm our life’s stance, feeling an inner fullness and harmony.

This idea has evolved over centuries—from the concepts of classical philosophy to modern interpretations. The notion of happiness as the complete and cumulative realization of all life’s benefits, where every aspect of life works in unison, reminds us that happiness is more than merely achieving goals. It is connected to a deep respect for our own needs and those pleasantly unexpected moments when our expectations are surpassed, bringing about a feeling of amazing joy.

In summary, happiness is a multifaceted state in which the harmony between the inner world and actual life conditions plays a decisive role. Recognizing that true satisfaction comes not only from external achievements but also from the inner ability to accept and enjoy every moment of life empowers us to move forward boldly. This perspective on happiness inspires us to seek what is truly important and reminds us that the pursuit of happiness is an innate and essential part of our lives.

What compels a person to consider themselves happy, and how is happiness defined?

A person considers themselves happy when their life conditions correspond to their personal conception of a complete and worthy life, and the feeling of happiness arises as an internal confirmation that they are obtaining what they truly desire. According to one source, happiness is formed by the perception of current life conditions. In file link txt it is stated:
"Based on these living conditions, a person builds for themselves such an idea of happiness that compels them to affirm their life under these conditions. If these given conditions bring them suffering, they naturally reject them... therefore, no person considers and cannot consider themselves guilty for wanting to be happy, as this desire is inherently defined in them by the very fact of their existence as a physical organism."

This statement indicates that happiness is not defined by external standards, but arises from personal perception and evaluation of life conditions. Moreover, the feeling of happiness does not merely result from achieving material goods, but as a sensation of inner fullness and harmony that emerges at the moment of affirming one's own stance on life.

The classical perspective, presented in another source, also emphasizes the comprehensive nature of happiness. In file link txt it was formulated:
"Since the time of Boethius, happiness has been defined as 'omnium bonorum tota simul et perfecta possessio' — the possession of all goods collectively, entirely, and simultaneously."

Thus, happiness is defined as the ideal and complete satisfaction of all needs, where a person has everything necessary for a full life. This definition shows that happiness is linked with the achievement of wholeness, when the availability of all goods is perceived as a subjective state of inner completeness.

There is also the view that happiness is experienced precisely in moments when not only expected desires are fulfilled, but something beyond ordinary expectations occurs. This suggests that, for experiencing happiness, the element of unexpected positive surprises is important—moments when one can exclaim, "I never even dreamed of this."

In conclusion, based on the array of presented perspectives, happiness is defined and experienced through the combination of life conditions that align with internal expectations, the attainment of all significant benefits, and a sense of complete satisfaction which allows one to affirm that their life is full and worthy.

Supporting citation(s):
"Based on these living conditions, a person builds for themselves such an idea of happiness that compels them to affirm their life under these conditions. If these given conditions bring them suffering, they naturally reject them, and if they have no conception of other life conditions, then together with the rejection of the current conditions, they must also reject their current life, because from pure rejection of existing conditions, no life can emerge. Therefore, as long as a person lives, they do not live by rejecting life, but by positively actualizing that content of life which presents itself to them as the expression of a happy life. For this reason, no person considers—and cannot consider—themselves guilty for desiring to be happy, since this desire is inherently defined in them by the very fact of their existence as a physical organism." (source: link txt)

"Since the time of Boethius, happiness has been defined as 'omnium bonorum tota simul et perfecta possessio' — the possession of all goods collectively, entirely, and simultaneously. Indeed, this definition encapsulates the essence of happiness and expresses its most important principles." (source: link txt)