What Is Happiness?

Happiness is defined as having positive emotions and relatively fewer negative emotions in one's life. It also involves feeling satisfied and having purpose and meaning in life. The goal is to maximize both the emotional and cognitive components of happiness. However, there can be moments where these components dissociate, such as when new parents experience the joy of having a baby but also face challenges like dirty diapers and sleepless nights. Similarly, wealthy individuals may have luxury and material comfort, but still feel a sense of emptiness. The ideal situation is to have a balance and maximize both components for a truly happy life.