Are we on the right track in the pursuit of happiness?

Evaluating the obstacles to people being happy, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir from Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences expressed that "Happiness is among the most permanent desires of human beings. However, it is often the most difficult to obtain." Stating that one of the obstacles to happiness is related to the expectation that happiness is an uninterrupted chain of positive emotions, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir said that "If their concern is happiness, people usually chase after the wrong things."

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Philosophy Instructor Prof. İbrahim Özdemir discussed the obstacles to people being happy.

Happy people tend to be more productive

Explaining that at the beginning of 2023, the New York Times published a series of articles titled "The Seven-Day Struggle for Happiness" aimed at increasing the happiness of its readers, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir stated that "One may wonder why a famous newspaper prepared such a long and detailed research article about being happy. However, the answer is loud and clear: Pursuing happiness can help us find meaning in life, reduce stress, and live a healthier life. Moreover, happy individuals tend to have more positive relationships and have higher overall life satisfaction. Therefore, pursuing happiness has the potential to lead to a better quality of life and well-being on a personal and societal level. Happy people also tend to be more productive and can impact their lives in a more positive way. As a result, the happiness of individuals can increase personal and societal happiness and offer a more fulfilling life."

Happiness is among the most enduring desires of human beings

Stating that "Happiness is among the most enduring desires of human beings. However, it is often the most difficult to obtain," Prof. İbrahim Özdemir added that Dr. Ben-Shahar has been devoted to happiness for decades, writing best-selling books and giving lectures on happiness, adding that Dr. Ben-Shahar said, "Only two types of people do not experience painful emotions: psychopaths and dead people."

Stating that according to Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, happiness means "the holistic well-being of the person", Prof. İbrahim Özdemir said that "Happiness involves accepting the complexities of life and creating opportunities for development from these difficulties. Instead of chasing after those who are happy all the time, Dr. Ben-Shahar recommends a more unique approach of 'strengthening our psychological growth system.'"

What is happiness?

Prof. İbrahim Özdemir explained his views on happiness as follows:

"In my view, happiness consists of five elements: spiritual well-being (meaning and purpose), physical well-being (nutrition, exercise, sleep), intellectual well-being (curiosity, deep learning), relational well-being (quality time spent with others; kindness and generosity) and emotional well-being (embracing painful emotions; cultivating positive emotions). As an interconnected sum of these five elements, happiness is much more than just pleasure."

Stating that happiness is the ultimate goal of life, as Aristotle stated, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir expressed that "This means that how we spend our everyday lives is ultimately guided by what we think will make us happier. This is not a good or bad thing. It is simply so, like the law of nature. For example, even people who work tirelessly for an important goal, such as eradicating world hunger, do so because they find their work meaningful. Meaning is an element of happiness."

What is an obstacle to our happiness?

Stating that "One of the obstacles to happiness has to do with the expectation that happiness is an uninterrupted chain of positive emotions. In fact, this expectation prevents people from experiencing happiness. This is because painful feelings don't go away when we reject them. They will only get stronger," Prof. İbrahim Özdemir continued his remarks as follows:

"The second obstacle has to do with equating happiness with success. There is a common belief that happiness can be achieved by achieving certain goals, such as money, fame, or praise. People tend to think that when they finally achieve success, they will automatically be happy. However, this is not the case. Therefore, if their concern is happiness, people often chase after the wrong things.

The third obstacle has to do with the way people pursue happiness. We want to be happy for many reasons. After all, we are constantly told that happiness is good for our health, relationships, and business results. And it feels good to be happy!"

What is the best way to pursue happiness?

Noting that pursuing happiness directly can harm people, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir said that "Pursuing happiness indirectly can contribute to our well-being by separating it into metaphorical colors. Spending more time on things that are meaningful to us, starting a meditation practice, exercising, doing good, learning something new, or expressing gratitude for what we have are all indirect ways to pursue happiness. Happiness can often seem like a great idea. However, if we divide and conquer, we can achieve much more."

The message that if you want to be happy, you have to achieve a certain thing is being marketed

Answering the question "Why is there misinformation so much about happiness?", Prof. İbrahim Özdemir stated that "The reason for this is the false stories presented to us by our close environment, media, advertisements and self-help books. The message that is often marketed is that if you want to be happy, you must achieve a certain thing (e.g., a spouse, a job, possessions, money). This model of happiness is based on getting what you lack, and promises continued happiness, provided you fill that lack. These false beliefs lead us astray by misinterpreting what it really takes to be happy."

It is important to recognize that it takes a lot of work to cultivate happiness...

Emphasizing what is required for happiness, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir said that "The first is to be more humble about what we can expect. Secondly, it is recognizing that it takes a lot of work to cultivate happiness. People often think that reading a book or attending a workshop is enough to master happiness. However, does someone who wants to learn to play the piano or play tennis believe that reading a book about it will turn them into a great musician or athlete? No.”

There are three levels of happiness that can be explored...

Stating that there are three levels of happiness that can be discovered, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir expressed that "The first level is the universal level. The elements of SPIRE (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional) are universal. Throughout history, people everywhere have needed a sense of meaning and purpose to survive. Moving, nurturing, learning, and curiosity are basic needs that we all share. Secondly, we must consider the cultural level. After acknowledging the universality of the human experience, it is important to consider cultural differences, especially when proposing blissful practices. Finally, there is the personal level. In the same culture, even two people raised by the same parents can be radically different. All three levels are important for understanding human happiness."

Traveling offers an opportunity to get to know ourselves

Pointing out that there are things to learn from other cultures about how to be happy, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir stated that "Traveling offers an opportunity to get to know ourselves, discover the universal and learn from differences. Travel encourages us to try new things. This is as true for their way of being and thinking as it is for food.”

Prof. İbrahim Özdemir also explained the lessons to be learned about happiness, and Özdemir concluded his remarks as follows: "Happiness can be something that people can reach more if we can break it down into its elements. Happiness consists of different elements spiritually, physically and mentally in terms of relationships and emotionally. Perhaps the best way to pursue happiness is to go the indirect route. That is, not to look for it."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)