What is happiness? The question has been of concern to humanity for centuries, but it is only today that science has entered the debate. Before examining the scientific advances in this area, let us first try to answer this less thorny question: what should not be confused with happiness?

Happiness is not: feeling good all the time

Skeptic minds often like to come forward if regular cocaine users are not just "happy" people. If happiness consisted of feeling good all the time, this theory might make sense. But recent studies suggest that consistent mood is mentally preferable to euphoria peaks followed by a further decline in diet. And when people are asked what makes happiness live, mood is rarely mentioned as an important factor. Most people seem to find meaning elsewhere, in their work or in their relationships. According to recent studies in this field, the perpetual pursuit of well-being could even undermine our general aptitude for happiness. In other words, the quest for euphoria would be a hopeless quest to the extent that, for most people, this state is physically impossible to reach permanently.

Happiness is not: being rich or being able to afford anything you want

If happiness seems more difficult to reach below the poverty line, there is no indication that, beyond this threshold, money makes happiness. Imagine if your salary suddenly increased by € 10,000 a year. That would certainly make you very happy at first, but you would have immediately made align your expenses on your new budget. You would find yourself very quickly in the same state of mind as before the increase! It does not matter if you've bought a house, a new car, gadgets or a long-sought-after property. To escape this rule, only one way: spend your money by sharing experiences with your loved ones. If you used your € 10,000 to offer dream weekends to your friends or family, then you could increase your level of happiness. But this is not usually the way people choose to spend such money.

Happiness is not: a goal in itself

"When will we arrive? The question of happiness often arises in these terms, as if it were a destination that one day will "reach". Contrary to popular belief, happiness is something you will need to cultivate if you are not one of the few lucky genetics who are naturally happy. To increase our happiness, some regular practices (such as keeping a journal of gratitude, for example) are more effective than moments of occasional joy. The happiness felt at certain moments of life (marriage, promotions) can be lively at the moment, but it eventually fades with time.

So, what is happiness?

According to science, happiness is based on two parameters: a sense of satisfaction with life (for example, finding meaning in one's work) and a sense of well-being on a daily basis. However, these parameters are more or less predefined: if our life circumstances can change, if our mood can fluctuate, it is the genetics that ultimately determines our general ability to happiness. The good news is that with a little profit, we have the power to reinforce this ability, just as we have the power to reshape our body. When we do not particularly monitor our diet or our level of activity, the pounds are installed. We just need to exercise and eat less to change our body mass. And when our new food and sports diet turns into a habit, our body retains its new weight. When, on the contrary, we start to eat more and move less, we take back all our kilos. The same is true of our aptitude for happiness.

In other words, we have the ability to control our feelings. With diligent practice, we can develop habits of life that will become the key to a more satisfying and fulfilling life.