In the kaleidoscope of human sensations, happiness appears as a fleeting radiance that cannot be held onto forever.

The Elusiveness of Joy: Unpacking the Fleeting Nature of Happiness

In the kaleidoscope of human sensations, happiness appears as a fleeting radiance that cannot be held onto forever. Our world, constrained by time, space, and social boundaries, creates conditions in which the feeling of happiness always seems temporary and ephemeral. We often strive to achieve it as our primary goal, yet the paradoxical pursuit of the perfect state only emphasizes its elusiveness. In reality, happiness comes unexpectedly—when our expectations are outpaced by reality, gifting us moments of complete satisfaction that cannot be programmed or scheduled. Each of us sees happiness in our own way, and its subjectivity only enhances this mystery: what brings joy to one may remain just a passing spark for another. Ultimately, realizing these peculiarities helps us understand that happiness is not a final destination, but a series of random, yet vivid, moments filled with life that make us genuinely rich.

What factors may contribute to the long-anticipated happiness seeming almost unattainable?

Based on the presented quotes, several factors can be identified that contribute to the feeling that the long-awaited happiness is almost unattainable:

1. The factor of ephemerality and impermanence of happiness. As noted in the text from file link txt, “If happiness were achievable once and for all, humanity would have long perished… The word ‘happiness’ is almost always associated in language with an indication of time: ‘happy moment,’ ‘minutes of happiness’…” which implies its fleeting nature and emphasizes that it is precisely the brief duration of joyful moments that makes them so valuable.

2. The limitations of human existence. The quote from file link txt states: “Our spatial, temporal, and social existence predetermines the unattainability of happiness for us. The impossibility of happiness in this reality is not only an ascetic but also a metaphysical assertion…” This indicates that the features of our existence (limitations in time and space, social constraints) create conditions under which absolute happiness is unattainable, as its achievement would require a change in the very fabric of reality.

3. The paradox of goal-setting. The materials from file link txt include a reflection that if a person regards happiness as the main goal of their existence, it eludes them: “It is as if some inexcusable sin of humanity is punished by this deceptive hope… The only possibility of achieving happiness—as Mill writes in his autobiography—is to consider something other than happiness as the goal in life.” This idea indicates that an excessive focus on the final state of happiness leads to inflated expectations and, consequently, to the feeling of its unattainability.

4. The subjectivity of the perception of happiness. Along with the previous idea, it is noted in the same source: “Happiness is completely subjective; everyone is happy in their own way…” The differences in the understanding of what happiness is, as well as the constant shifting of its criteria among different people, contribute to the fact that a singular, definitive state of happiness proves unattainable.

5. The element of unexpectedness and the factor of exceeding expectations. Another aspect highlighted in the same file link txt is: “A person in a state of happiness feels complete and fulfilled, having no desires. Moreover, a person usually feels happy not when they reach the limit of their dreams, but when something beyond what was expected is received…” This indicates that happiness often comes unexpectedly, when the situation goes beyond our expectations, and constant control and planning cannot guarantee the emergence of such a “gifted from above” state.

Thus, the feeling of the unattainability of long-awaited happiness is due to a combination of factors: the fleeting and ephemeral nature of joyful emotions, the limitations of human existence, the paradox of goal-setting, the subjectivity of the understanding of happiness, and its unexpected nature.

Supporting citation(s):
“If happiness were achievable once and for all, humanity would have long perished… ‘happy moment,’ ‘minutes of happiness’…” (source: link txt)

“Our spatial, temporal, and social existence predetermines the unattainability of happiness for us. The impossibility of happiness in this reality is not only an ascetic, but also a metaphysical assertion…” (source: link txt)

“As if some inexcusable sin of humanity is punished by this deceptive hope… The only possibility of achieving happiness, as Mill writes in his autobiography, is to consider something other than happiness as the goal in life.” (source: link txt)

“A person in a state of happiness feels complete and fulfilled, having no desires… When they can say, ‘I never even dreamed of this.’ Happiness is not about what one dreams of, but about what one never even dreamed of.” (source: link txt)