Happiness is a state of mind.

Specifically, it is a state of “well-being and

contentment.”

But the definition can be tricky and assumptions about the word can cause
confusion. Many don’t even realize learning how to be happy is something that can
be intentionally practiced. Some people, when they hear the word ‘happiness,’
assume it is speaking of an emotion such as pleasure or joy. For them, it is what
people feel in the immediate here and now.

This is the reason some people say, “Don’t pursue happiness, seek joy. Happiness
is fickle and fading, joy remains forever.”

But this short-term definition of happiness is not how everyone understands the
word. Some define it to mean long-term satisfaction.

In fact, when I speak of experiencing happiness in life, I am not thinking of short-

term emotions at all. I think of a quality of living—a much longer-term view of the
word.

Both definitions are understood to be correct and speak of different realities.

But are they really that different? I don’t think so.

After all, a long-term experience of life satisfaction is almost certainly made up

of many short-term feelings of joy and pleasure. Does that mean every day is a
great day with no trials, temptations, or downturns? Certainly not. But it does mean
when we look back at the many seasons of life, we can look back satisfied at how
we navigated them.
The long-term feeling of life satisfaction is most experienced when we embrace the
emotion of joy in the here and now.

And we accomplish that by taking steps each day to be happy. Here are some tips
on how to be happier starting today.