The Secret to Happyness

We’re all chasing happiness, but have you ever stopped to ask what exactly it is that you’re chasing?

Most of us grow up believing that certain things will make us happy: good grades, a great college, a high-paying job, a car, a bigger car, a better house, more followers, that perfect vacation. And to be honest, some of these do make us happy, at least for a moment!

You get the job, feel great. You buy the new phone, feel even better. You eat a piece of chocolate cake, feel amazing… until it’s gone. And then what? You want another piece, or something bigger, something shinier. That’s where things get tricky.

The truth is, what we call “happiness” is often just a series of quick hits, short-lived highs that fade just as fast as they arrived. And yet, we keep chasing them, mistaking momentary pleasure for lasting joy.

The freedom we’re actually seeking

If you take note from ancient philosophies, especially those rooted in Indian wisdom traditions, they’ll tell you this: what we really seek isn’t knowledge for the sake of knowing, it’s liberation. Liberation from pain, from suffering, from restlessness and discontent. In modern terms, it’s freedom or liberation from that feeling of never quite being satisfied.

We think happiness lies in the next achievement, the next purchase, the next validation. But what we’re really looking for is peace, contentment. A sense of being well, not just for a moment, but in a lasting, grounded way.

Why pleasure doesn’t equal happiness

Let’s break this down.

Sure, buying something nice or reaching a goal feels good. But the problem is, that feeling always has an expiration date. You get used to the new phone, the fancy car becomes normal, the applause fades.

This constant chase, called hedonic adaptation, keeps us stuck in a loop. The more we get, the more we want. And no matter how much we achieve or acquire, it never feels like quite enough.

If money and material things were the secret to happiness, then the richest people would be the happiest. But we all know that’s not the case. In fact, many people with everything the world makes us want- wealth, fame, success, still battle with emptiness, anxiety, even depression.

So clearly, something’s missing.

What actually contributes to our Well-Being

Real happiness, the kind that doesn’t evaporate after a few hours, comes from things that are often quieter, simpler, and far less glamorous:

• Doing something kind for someone else.
• Being present with the people you love.
• Forgiving someone (even if it’s just in your heart).
• Taking care of your body and mind.
• Saying “thank you” and meaning it. 
• Being in nature, or better yet, taking care of it.

These aren’t necessarily “pleasurable” in the way cake or compliments are. But they contribute to our well-being. They help us grow. They connect us to others. And most importantly, they connect us to ourselves.

Why the “Next Big Thing” won’t make you happy (for long)

Here’s the pattern most of us fall into:

• “Once I get into that college, I’ll be happy.”
• “Once I get that promotion, I’ll be happy.”
• “Once I earn ₹X amount, then I’ll really be happy.”

But each time we get there, a new target appears. The goalposts shift. There’s always another “next.”

That’s why real happiness has to come from something deeper, something not tied to the external highs and lows of life. Because life will have highs and lows. It’s not always a joyride. But if our well-being is grounded in something real, we learn to surf those waves with a little more balance and peace.

So… What is The Secret to Happyness?

The kind of happiness worth chasing is the one that leaves you feeling fuller, softer, more alive. It’s the happiness that grows your heart and quiets your mind.
It helps you love yourself, and others,  a little better. It brings you into deeper connection with life, instead of pulling you further away from it.

From my personal experience, one beautiful way to invite this kind of happiness into your life? Gardening.

Yep. Digging in the dirt. Planting seeds. Watering something and watching it grow. Simple, right? But here’s what happens when you garden:
You slow down. You become patient. You become hopeful and grateful!
You start to observe things, tiny leaves, new buds, the smell of soil after rain.

And you begin to feel… something.

A kind of quiet joy. A grounded presence. A sense of purpose that doesn’t come from a title or a pay check, but from simply taking care, of something, of yourself, of life.

There’s a reason flowers are gifted to the unwell, they bring a sense of hope, calm, and beauty, even in difficult moments. There’s a reason people feel lighter around plants, or more at peace in the mountains or by the sea.

We are part of nature, whether we realize it or not. The more we reconnect with it, the more we reconnect with ourselves.

In the end, Happiness isn’t out there

Here’s the thing most of us miss:
Happiness isn’t something we earn. It’s something we allow.
It’s not a prize waiting at the end of the race. It’s the quality of attention, presence, and care we bring to the run itself. So maybe it’s not about chasing happiness anymore. Maybe it’s about getting quiet enough to feel it. To recognize it in the little things. To stop looking for it in price tags and start growing it in the spaces we already inhabit. Like your balcony. Your relationships. Your breath.

Final Thought

Don’t just chase happiness, nurture it. The right kind of happiness won’t burn out, because it’s not based on getting more, it’s based on being more.
More kind. More present. More connected.

That’s the kind of happy that actually lasts.