JUST PHILOSOPHISING - ON STATES OF BEING. HAPPY. PART 1

So, consider this: What is this thing called 'happiness', to which probably all humans aspire towards acquiring? Is it an ephemeral or fleeting moment of bliss, like feeling intense pleasure for a brief period of time, and then it passes ? Or is it a state of feeling a sense of tranquility, which might last for days, weeks, months, or even years?

Not being au fait with other languages and their semantics, I do not know whether they have as many words as the English language, which can denote states of happiness. There are words such as happy, delighted, excited, fun, enthralled, enjoyable, and pleasurable.

Looking at Google, I have seen a range of descriptions or definitions of 'happiness.' These include, 'a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleaseant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.'

Another definition of happiness is, 'a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life - that is, with a sense of meaning and deep satisfaction.'

Of course, living a 'good life' can be a very subjective reality, which depends on ones country and culture. Which is probably just as well, as it might indeed be the case that 'happiness' is itself a subjective state of being.

Looking at the various definitions of 'happiness', what they all seem to have in common, is that it is an emotional state of being. Which, we could infer, does not precluded this generally 'happy' person having painful traumas and periods of, it seems to me, 'unhappiness.' 

Just as how the 'happy' person might at times find themselves feeling elevated, possibly causing them to feel that they are 'walking on air', so, with the ebbing and flowing of their fateful living, might they find themselves in troughs of low tide, or feelings of despair. 

What characterises or defines the happiness of person, for me, is that they are generally or usually in an enduring state of emotional equilibrium, with non of their emotions fluctuating wildly or untypically. A state characterised with no excessive amount of mood elevation and inner or outwardly focused conflict.

To be continued.