What is happiness, anyway?
Scientists will tell you it is about dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. But what do they know. I mean, have you ever met a happy scientist? Plus, they are always complicating things: “Using new computer software to observe and record people’s faces, scientists mapped no fewer than 21 emotional states, including apparently contradictory examples such as “happily disgusted” and “sadly angry“. Ugggg. Let’s leave scientists out of this.
Liberty? Well, what is liberty to a hungry person: the freedom to be hungry? The freedom to be homeless? (Sounds like PFDJ talk, but still…)
The so-called “moral molecule”? Something about caring for others? Maybe. But that’s also the source of unhappiness: when you can’t care for them.
Exercise? Really, have you tried exercising when you are in pain? You may be proud after you exercise but not happy. The happiness is of the “glad that’s over” sort, and that’s not the happiness we are looking for. Ok, fine: there is the runner’s high. But it’s fleeting.
Pets? We have heard of “pet therapy” but never “pet happiness.” Plus, cat people hate dogs and dog people hate cats. You can’t be happy if you are hateful.
What do religions say about happiness. They don’t: they speak of contentment because you are not entitled to be happy. You are here to worship and then, if you are lucky, get your reward. And just hurry up and die, and you will know the meaning of happiness.
Do you even know what absolute happiness looks like? It is one that combines “the Bliss Molecule”, “the Reward Molecule”, “the Bonding Molecule”, “the Pain-killing molecule”, “the anti-anxiety molecule”, “the confidence molecule”, and “the energy molecule.” In this state, you are at peace, you have a sense that you achieved a goal, a sense of belonging and togetherness, an ocean of calm waving over you, a sense of high-worth and being appreciated, and a belief that you have so much energey you can do anything. It is nearly impossible to conceal happiness.
Some people confuse pride with happiness. So, to help you distinguish between the two:
Here is pride: Isaias Afwerki right after voting (for independence?) in the Eritrean Referendum of April 1993:
And here is happiness: Isaias Afwerki in Addis Abeba addressing Ethiopians in July 2018
You might also like
Leave A Reply