Life, as a journey, has its ups and downs, but through this hurly-burly, no one wants this journey to end all of a sudden. There’s so much to do, so many heights to attain, but as the economist will say, human wants are definitely insatiable.
The multi-million dollar question is “when on earth do we say we’ve reached the height of happiness?” Come join me on this cruise, as we explore the journey of happiness, taking into consideration the various opinions of great personnel I’ve been privileged to roll with.
‘Willkommen!!’ (Welcome)…
The dictionary meaning of happiness views happiness as “satisfaction, success, fulfillment, achievement…” Happiness in my own point of view is achieving an aim or reaching the zenith/peak of one’s purpose or assignment.
Yemi thinks that “when one is in pursuit of happiness, he might end up missing out and not getting that happiness”. People in our world today actually pursue happiness, but do we say that it is the process of pursuit we term happiness or the achievement of our aim?
“For me, it could be a means or an end, depending on how it is being used. Like when you look forward to a certain goal and it is achieved, you are happy (end). Happiness could also be enthusiasm, for example, happy people achieve their aims but unhappy people do not (means). So it works hand in hand” – Majo.
To some people, the issue of happiness either being a means or an end is very complicated and that is why when asked, they could only express themselves through sighs and gesticulations.
“In short, I have no answer to that question, it is complicated” – Anonymous.
A lot of people believe in the theory which states that “the end justifies the means”, that is, it is the result of an action that actually tells if the process of doing it was a happy one or not. But people ask questions like “what keeps a person going in achieving his aim, if not for the happiness and zeal in performing the task?”
“Happiness is a virtue one needs to hold on to in order to achieve a goal, so in that case, I would say it is a means.” – Miriam.
I’ve really been put on a tight corner on this issue because in life, different people have different opinions on different issues. Michael says that it is mainly the old people who can answer the question on whether happiness is a means or an end, but sometimes, we still find old folks thinking.
What in heaven’s name are they thinking about? Some say they are not happy, why? Is it because when they look back at their endeavours on earth, all they get is dissatisfaction? Probably they have achieved little or nothing in life, probably all they’ve ever worked for have been thrown to the dogs and there is presently nothing to show for it.
“Happiness is an end; using life as an example, when you ask old men what they feel about life, they will tell you they are ‘happy’. Happiness is a period when you have freedom, when it starts, it has no end.” – Michael.
Life itself is full of ironies. Is happiness a means to achieving an end or the end itself? The search goes on…
“I see happiness as an end, because it is the final result of anything you are doing”. – Isioma
A lot of people say happiness is achievement, but someone actually says it is when you have attained freedom. Now, when in life do we say we’ve reached the height of freedom? This brings us to Michael’s belief that “Happiness is said to have been achieved only when one is in the grave”.
How funny that is, you know, but there is actually sense in that. He believes that you reach the height of happiness when there are no obstacles on the way any longer.
“Happiness is an end to me, because everything I do is aimed at making me happy in the end, everything I work for is for a happy end”. – Uche
Looking around me now, I see people smiling, but does it mean they are happy? This is really tough.
“The process of doing anything is also as important as the end itself. Although, the process is not always smooth, there must be a deliberate attitude of positivity, happiness. The process leads to an end.” – Annie
The term ‘I am not happy’ may mean different things. It either means ‘I am sad now’ or ‘I have not achieved what I desire’. The issue is if life was in a sequence, then one would know what to expect at the end of everything we do. But most times, what we embark on might not lead to a good and happy end like we expect, so whether we were happy in the process or not, do we still call that ‘happiness’?
Stanley says that “happiness in doing something gives you hope and assurance to do other things”.
Hope, yes, but what if your hope for success doesn’t lead you to success? Your dreams get shattered and the result becomes the opposite – ‘frustration’.
This I know, having lived a few decades on earth, that being at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing can be a great source of happiness. According to the Psalmist’s 122nd chapter, abiding in the Lord’s House brings you pleasure and divine happiness.
I recall also that our Lord said that we cannot build Him a house made with bare hands according to the 66th chapter of Prophet Isaiah’s book, “Where then is a house you could build for me? And where is a place that I may rest?” this reveals to me that God longs to build His House in Our Hearts, not just for His Name’s Sake but for our sakes also; that is the only way to attain exceeding happiness in this life and beyond.
So much wrong going on in our society today, for how long will we be in pursuit of happiness?
Although, we are not of this world, truth still remains that we are in it… for now… we cannot afford to not find that place of rest in this abode of ours.
Let the Joy of the Lord dwell richly on your inside and give you strength both for life’s journey (means) and also for a happy ending. We cannot afford to pass through this life without having to really live it.
Is Happiness a means or an end? My Happiness, My Joy is in Jesus… The Beginning and the Ending… He never ends… My life is so entwined in Him that I find great Joy everyday here (means), and even in life eternal (end)… No! Forever
Interviews granted by closest friends and course mates; Madonna Uni. Economics dept. (2010)
Compiled and written by Amy
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