THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
/ 03.2023 / BY MELODY SANDERSON
Happiness is a universal concept that humans have sought since the dawn of civilisation. It refers to a sense of well-being, contentment, joy, or satisfaction derived from living life with purpose and meaning. However, happiness is a subjective emotion that means different things to different people, making it an elusive concept not easily construed. Despite our never-ending pursuit of it, we're still incapable of defining it in exact, tangible terms.
When looking a little deeper — and inside the body, we find that joy can be attributed to a few select hormones and chemical reactions responsible for our well-being. Dopamine and oxytocin (the ‘love’ or ‘cuddle hormone’) are released by the brain and endorphins are released by the pituitary gland. It is, however, limiting to simplify our overall well-being to these few elements, something that is far more complex and influenced by a plethora of factors such as lifestyle choices and life events.
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."
Marcus Aurelius
It is now broadly accepted that we have agency over our own well-being, and that happiness can in fact be created internally. We’re no longer passive victims and observers of our lives and are able to attain and maintain an optimal state of happiness. This requires effort and awareness of course, but we’re equipped with various tools to do so. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude, optimism, and self-compassion for example, can create an environment prone to the production of these feel-good hormones. This can be achieved through mindfulness practices, positive thinking, and activities like yoga and meditation. These solutions and tools have been around for thousands of years, some recommended during Ancient Greece by the Stoics. They believed that true happiness and joy could only be achieved through inner peace and virtue, rather than external factors. Emphasising the importance of being content with what one has and accepting whatever life brings over striving for more or being attached to material possessions, the Stoics believed that practicing self-control, wisdom, and compassion, would lead to a state of tranquility and joy that was not dependent on external circumstances.
/ ILLUSTRATION OF MARCUS AURELUIS
A true lifelong journey, the pursuit of happiness is intimately linked with our sense of fulfilment and meaning. This goes hand in hand with exploring our passions and discovering things that make us feel alive and fulfilled. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being" and refers to finding one's purpose in life. In essence, it's about finding the intersection between what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When you discover your Ikigai and are able to pursue it with passion and dedication, you’re suddenly living a purposeful life, making a positive impact in the world and living to your potential.
Cultivating joy through playfulness and laughter can significantly improve our well-being on a physical, emotional, and mental level. Linked to improved health outcomes such as better sleep, reduced stress levels and increased immunity, feeling joyful improves our overall energy levels, helping us stay motivated throughout the day. It supports better focus and creativity, making us more open-minded thinkers and better problem solvers. Creating a sense of connection with others, joy encourages empathy and compassion, fostering a deep sense of belonging to our community. Activities like meditation, exercise, or cultivating healthy relationships can be great ways to lift our mood and combat feelings of sadness, loneliness, or anxiety. And laughter, specifically, encourages the release of endorphins into our bloodstream, boosts our mood, relieves pain, and improves our immunity, exercising our diaphragm and stimulating circulation while working the muscles in the face, abdomen, shoulders, and back.
“We all impact each other in a way or in another. People who feel good will in turn positively impact those around them, and approaching anything or anyone with a smile creates a positive environment.”
Thomas Cock
Thomas Cock, one of our collaborators, is humorist, performer and founder of the project Fall In Laugh through which he has brought thousands of people together to practice the art of laughing. Utilising his experience as a comedian on stage coupled with his work with NGO’s focused on the healing power of laughter yoga, Thomas writes comical pieces and organises workshops and comedy dinners to fulfil his mission: making people laugh. You’ll have the opportunity to join one of his experiences at our beach home this summer.
“Laughter has been a spiritual journey for me, with the most recent revelation being laughter yoga. Ever since I discovered laughter yoga, I’ve been practicing it to bring joy to my life. I’m passionate about sharing its virtues because I truly believe laughing deeply promotes wellbeing and happiness.”
Thomas Cock
Ultimately, happiness is an individual journey that requires dedication, patience, and resilience to experience its true rewards. Happiness is not something that happens to us; it is something we must actively strive for every day. By creating opportunities for ourselves to experience joy, we can improve our overall well-being and live more fulfilling lives.