The United States constitution has a list of defined rights. These are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Wait; what? Not the right to happiness, but only the pursuit? Was this perhaps an oversight by some old men on their last leg?
No, this is no mistake. Happiness, as contemporarily understood as being hedonistic and pleasurable, is fleeting. No one has the right to happiness because it is not something one could hope to maintain indefinitely. However, we are all entitled to chase it! Should we chase it, though? Or is there something else more worth our time?
Happiness – The Vibe Check
A recent word that’s become popular among the younger generations is “vibe.” It mostly means something like mood or the energy/feeling a person gives off. Happiness is similar to good vibes, though not entirely the same. Vibe check is basically like checking-in on someone. Like a “How are you right now?” The response is, hopefully, positive.
Bad vibes are frowned upon, though. To fail a vibe check or give off bad vibes is considered not good. Many people want “good vibes only” in their lives. It’s like saying happy, positive people only. That’s impossible. We can only hope to pursue happiness, not always be there. So, to deny bad vibes is to deny the truth of the world. Life is suffering, and we aren’t always happy.
Happiness – The Fleeting Chemical
Happiness, as an indulgent emotion, is a chemical reaction to something that our bodies like. It is associated with the primitive reward center of our brain. Good food or sex makes us happy, and we want more because our bodies believe these things to be necessary for survival.
In the same way, sugars, drugs, and even games, and social media give us those chemical hits that make our bodies crave more.
How many times have you finished browsing on social media or eating a bunch of candy and thought, “That was fulfilling and rewarding?” and how many times have you thought, “Worth it.”
What’s the difference?
One is saying what you did was worth the effort, and the payout made you feel better to have done it. The other is saying the temporary bliss is worth the consequences you have or will have to face.
It’s often temporary, and you usually know that what you’re doing isn’t what you should be doing.
Meaning – What is it?
This is the question of life, right? What is the point? What’s the meaning? Well, the answer, as I’ve come to learn, is whatever you make it to be. Life has two modes, though.
Everything has meaning.
Nothing has meaning.
If nothing is meaningful, then nothing you do really matters. Might as well stop reading this article at that point.
So, let’s assume everything has meaning. That means the time you spent doing something that wasn’t productive is exactly that—time spent not being productive. Time you lost. Is it worth it? You can decide that. But, it’s probably fleeting if you were chasing that happiness high.
Meaning is a little different.
When you achieve something meaningful, it carries itself across time. You can always look back at that thing and have pride and satisfaction because it’s something you did that was meaningful. The chemicals are still there, very similar chemicals to happiness, if not the same. However, the hit is extended for longer. Much longer.
Is that not a type of happiness?
It is. It’s fulfillment. You also have a right to pursue that!
Meaning vs. Happiness
We have a right to pursue both of these things, but which is better to dedicate your time to, Hedonistic happiness or fulfilled meaning?
Well, they are actually both the same thing—two sides of the same coin. You might be more familiar with the terms immediate and delayed gratification. That’s immediate happiness and delayed happiness. In this Ness Labs article they discuss happiness as having three levels: immediate emotion, general satisfaction, and achievement in relation to reason.
Here, I have labeled the third version of happiness as meaning to differentiate it from the emotional state of happiness induced by in the moment chemicals.
The pursuit of happiness leads to many spontaneous choices, things like engaging in social media, eating that last slice of cake, and playing games. These are incredibly satisfying in the moment and serve as excellent rewards. Personally, I wouldn’t give up a good slice of cake or a friendly game of League of Legends after a hard day.
The pursuit of meaning leads to many difficult choices, things like taking care of responsibilities, long hours of hard work, and consistent effort towards a goal. These are far more difficult to always act out but result in higher levels of life satisfaction. The slice of cake or game of League would feel far less satisfying if I hadn’t also gotten work done. I would feel guilty.
Are you Chasing Meaning or Happiness?
No one is obligated to stop their pursuit of either of these two things. The choice is purely yours to make. However, if you want to know which of the two you are after right now, you can ask yourself some questions.
Are my Actions For a Greater Goal or to Feel Good Now?
This is a very common question. Meaning will come from taking actions towards something you value. Seeing progress towards that thing often brings satisfaction and long term happiness in the form of fulfillment.
Happiness will come from things that give you a nice feeling or distraction for the moment. This is great when you desperately need to relax and get your mind off of the difficult things.
Will my Actions have Negative Consequences?
It can happen even when chasing meaning, but actions that sacrifice something you think is a good thing might be happiness oriented—for instance, skipping on a workout to play a game or breaking your diet for a bag of cookies. Workouts and a diet might be things you consider as good, while the cookies and games are the happiness reward.
On the other side, you might sacrifice a night with your buddies in order to work on the next chapter of your novel. The novel gives you meaning, but you are still sacrificing. However, while a drunk night with your friends is a good thing, you might find more satisfaction in writing your novel, especially when the deadline is close.
Is This Behavior Across Time a Good or Bad Habit?
Cookies, games, and drunk nights with friends are actually healthy things. Your body wants and probably needs a break from the constant exertion. Chasing meaning all the time can be a harsh lifestyle that takes its toll.
If you continue to do these things for a long time, though, they become a habit. They might make you happy in the moment and be a needed relief, but doing them constantly makes them a habit. So, is it a good or bad habit in the long run for you?
There is no right or wrong answer. Everyone lives their lives how they deem fit. Even if the data shows the pursuit of meaning leads to greater life satisfaction statistically, that doesn’t mean it is for everyone.
The next time you take action, think about what is important at that moment. Is it happiness that will break the monotony of hard work? Is it meaning that will drive you into the future you want? The choice is yours.
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