**a meaningful life should be what we aspire to.** - we can't always be happy, because happiness is a [temporary state.](https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/conversation-why-the-pursuit-of-happiness-should-really-be-the-pursuit-of-meaning/20524/) there is no way for us to be happy our entire lives and wanting to is futile. what makes happiness so special is how much more significant it is once you realise what it means to lose it. if we never felt anything more than that what would be the point in trying to uproot our lives? we are complex and feel a vast array of emotions so we should embrace that. things happen in life, some make us happy and others take that happiness away. we will live constantly not knowing when we will next be happy, but what we can control is if we are fulfilling our desires and finding meaning in what we do. - [happiness itself is subjective.](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210105-why-our-pursuit-of-happiness-may-be-flawed) everyone has a different idea of what it means to be happy. some people think it is to do with how much material success you have, some people attribute it to family life. some say it comes from adhering to traditional values and some say it only comes from rejecting the status quo and choosing yourself. everyone's happiness is dependent on who they are as a person so why should we strive for something so vague and arbitrary? happiness is ephemeral so perhaps we should chase something that lasts.

**If we don't strive for happiness in ourselves and happiness in our circumstances then it becomes difficult to live life to the fullest.** - The pursuit of happiness, whilst seemingly [idealistic](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210105-why-our-pursuit-of-happiness-may-be-flawed), enables us as people to set out what kind of things we want to strive for. Specifically looking for the things, the people, the experiences that make us happy. - It can be argued that the pursuit of happiness is probably easier to achieve in the modern day than it was for previous generations. [This article](https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahlandrum/2017/11/10/millennials-arent-afraid-to-change-jobs-and-heres-why/) contends that millennials are more likely to leave their jobs when they aren't satisfied, when this may not even be an option for older generations. - It is likely that the definitions of happiness will vary between generations and cultures, which doesn't negate the pursuit of happiness argument, but supports different interpretations of it.

**Lasting happiness (or perhaps 'joy' is a more suitable term), is a product of a purposeful life, not the purpose itself.** - Happiness can be found when we live in accordance with our purpose. That doesn’t mean that the purpose of life is _itself_ happiness. - I don’t think looking for happiness is the goal of life as this is not truly achievable. The [‘hedonistic paradox’](https://www.theworldcounts.com/happiness/the-hedonic-paradox) says that if your sole purpose is finding happiness for yourself, then you are less likely to find it. Surely our purpose would be something within our capabilities, and which brings about happiness as a product? - The wellness industry exhibits this problem well as it encourages people to focus intensely on their individual wellness or happiness. While the movement can make people happier to an extent, it can also make people obsessive about their life and themselves as an individual, an issue described as [‘wellness syndrome.’](https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/opinion/wellness-actually-making-us-happy/) - Personally, I believe that the purpose of life is to live in accordance with how God has made you and to reflect God's love in the world. In my view, it makes sense that the purpose of life must necessarily have a moral dimension for it to be truly meaningful. By doing this, a deep sense of happiness or joy can be found, an indication that we are living in the way that we are supposed to.

**If it's true that each of us has a 'Happiness Set-Point', a level to which we always return, maybe happiness isn't something we can optimise for** Lots of research suggests humans have a [Happiness Set-Point](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/meditation-modern-life/201709/your-set-point-happiness). That after the highs and lows caused by short-term externalities, we revert back to a level of happiness that is pretty constant throughout our lives. To some it's proof of the ['hedonic treadmill'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_treadmill) - the idea that we will always revise our expectations (and happiness) in relation to our circumstances. To others it's simply biology at play. We might have some control over happiness if it's the former. If it's biology - and some people are just born a little happier than others - then it's unlikely something we can optimise, and therefore unlikely to be a good 'purpose of life'.