Happiness

Happiness, pleasure or joy is the emotional state of being happy. The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical quandaries. Proposed definitions include freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one's place in the universe or society, inner peace, and so forth. More generally, though, it can be defined as the state which humans and other animals are behaviorally driven towards, to counter external forces which would otherwise lead to unhappiness (and presumably eventual death).

Behaviors and emotions associated with happiness

The following behaviors and emotions are commonly associated with happiness:

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Material:

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• money and business, prosperity
• food
• massage
• using certain psychiatric or recreational drugs
• refuge - taking from the material things in life, getting back to nature.

Social:

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• freedom
• peace
• nonviolence
• closure
• shopping
• friends and friendships (also penpals)
• dating
• flirting
• gifts
• greeting cards and postcards
• family and parents
• lifestyles and alternative lifestyles
• music

Emotional:

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• kissing
• sexuality
• love
• romantic relationships and romance
• compassion
• pets and animals

Spiritual:

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• Tantra
• religion
• philosophy, Epicurus, Epicureanism
• spirituality
• meditation and yoga
• enlightenment

Other:

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• sleeping
• drinking, alcohol
• hobbies
• decoration
• sports
• science
• books
• work
• cinema
• expanding knowledge, reading and learning new things

Epicurus taught that although it is good to satisfy our natural desires for food and drink, pleasures often conceal painful consequences.

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