What is happiness in life?

The Pillars of Happiness in Our Hyperconnected World

We can all probably agree that the quest for happiness is a universal phenomenon, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. Studies indicate that people around the world prioritize achieving happiness over other goals such as wealth accumulation, material possessions, and even spiritual rewards like reaching heaven. 

However, when we live in an age where technology infiltrates every aspect of our lives, finding true happiness might seem like navigating a labyrinth cluttered with digital distractions. 

Yet, despite the complexities introduced by our hyperconnected lifestyles, the foundation for happiness remains relatively very simple. Drawing from the timeless insights of Carl Jung and reinforced by contemporary research, it becomes clear that happiness is structured around five essential pillars. 

Embracing these pillars can help us navigate our tech-saturated world, ensuring that our digital interactions enhance rather than detract from our well-being.

1. Holistic Health in the Digital Age

Without a doubt, today's modern technology offers us an array of technological solutions that can help us monitor and improve our physical and mental health. From fitness trackers that monitor our sleep and steps to apps that guide us through meditation sessions, technology provides no end of tools that can help us live healthier lives.

However, the real challenge lies in achieving a balance where these tools serve us without dominating our lives. Excessive screen time, social media consumption, and the stress of constant connectivity can negate the benefits these technologies offer.

To truly build happiness, we must remember to use technology mindfully, having the ability to track our health without becoming beholden to our devices, and prioritizing offline activities like exercise, nature walks, and in-person social interactions that are proven to enhance physical and mental health. 

In the end, simple approaches are best. Making sure we get enough sleep, eat well, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and spend time with loved ones are all proven ways to improve our overall well-being. 

By focusing on these basics, we can build a foundation of happiness that will last a lifetime.

READ: Back to Basics: 6 Ways to Bring Back the Simplicity into Your Life

2. The Importance of Nurturing Relationships in the Era of Social Media

While social media platforms keep us connected with friends and family around the world, they often replace deeper, more meaningful interactions with quick, surface-level engagements. Instead of making time to meet with those close to us, we often opt to send a quick text or post on social media.  While these interactions can be fun and convenient, they don’t provide the same level of emotional support as face-to-face conversations do.  What we think are meaningful connections, are actually low-intermittence relationships. In fact, research has shown that people who spend more time on social media are more likely to feel lonely and isolated than those who don’t.

True happiness grows from rich, personal relationships nurtured through uninterrupted quality time, shared experiences, and deep conversations. Technology should be a tool to facilitate these relationships, not a barrier. 

Making a commitment to plan face-to-face gatherings and meeting those close to us in real-life This will help us to build stronger relationships and feel more connected. We can use technology as a tool to help plan these gatherings, such as using video chat or social media to facilitate events and coordinate meetups.

Additionally, regular digital detoxes help keep our interactions authentic and prevent the feelings of isolation that can come from superficial online connections.

3. Beauty and Art in the Digital World

Did you know that the appreciation of beauty, whether in art or nature, significantly boosts our happiness? That's right! The more we surround ourselves with beautiful things, the happier we feel.

Yet, in a world dominated by screens, our experience of beauty is often mediated through digital images and virtual tours. While these technologies make art and nature more accessible to a wider audience, they can also dilute the profound impact of firsthand experiences.

Just think about it: When was the last time you went to a museum or gallery and really looked at the art, and not taking pictures? When was the last time you stood in front of a beautiful landscape and just took it all in, without whipping out your smartphone to post a picture on social media? When was the last time you went to a concert and just listened to music without whipping out your smartphone and recording the whole thing or parts of it? The answer is probably not very often. And that’s a shame, because there’s something about being present in the moment and just enjoying the experience that can’t be replicated by any other medium.

If you're like most people, these experiences are few and far between.

To counteract this, it is crucial to engage directly with the world. Visiting art galleries, exploring parks, and experiencing live performances provide unfiltered beauty that enriches our souls.

Using technology to discover and plan these experiences can enhance our appreciation while ensuring that our most meaningful interactions with beauty remain rooted in the real world.

4. Sustainable Living and Meaningful Work

Have you ever heard the saying, “Happy people live with purpose.” This is true, but it’s also important to note that purpose can be found in many different ways. Some people find meaning through their work, while others find it in their relationships with family and friends, others find it in living simply. The key is to find something that gives you joy and allows you to make a positive impact on the world around you.

Happy people enjoy strong relationships, working towards their goals, and living by their values. They don't need fancy things or expensive trips to be happy. Instead, they find joy in simple things like a beautiful sunset, taking a walk with a friend, or reading a good book.

However, technology and constant connectivity. which offers the illusion of immediacy and the pursuit of instant gratification, has reshaped our expectations of happiness. This relentless quest for quick rewards diminishes our capacity to savor life's deeper, more enduring pleasures, leading us further away from true contentment.

This is also where the intersection of work and technology forever changed the landscape of our professional lives, offering unparalleled flexibility and efficiency. Yet, this often comes at the cost of a blurred line between work and personal life. Happiness in this area is fostered by establishing firm boundaries to prevent work from seeping into every aspect of our lives and seeking out work that provides not just financial stability, but also personal satisfaction and a sense of purpose.

READ: Why Workplace Purpose Matters for Career Satisfaction

Technology can be a valuable ally here, with tools that help manage our time and workload effectively, enabling us to pursue careers that are not only productive but also fulfilling. 

5. Resilient Philosophy in an Instant World

Living in a culture that prizes speed and efficiency, maintaining a philosophical or spiritual outlook, which provides a necessary counterbalance and helps us make sense of our experiences and find deeper meaning in life, can be a challenge.

This pillar is perhaps the most difficult to maintain in a world of instant gratification, where technology advances at an incredible pace.

However, technology can also support our spiritual and philosophical growth, through resources like meditation apps, virtual religious services, and philosophical podcasts. The key is to use these tools thoughtfully, allowing them to complement traditional practices like meditation, reflection, and community involvement without replacing them.

Final Thoughts 

The five pillars of happiness are not mutually exclusive, but rather work together to create a sense of purpose and fulfillment. By focusing on these simple areas, we can find balance in our lives and develop a greater appreciation for the world around us.

At Mudita, we are always reminding our community that we must be mindful of how we interact with technology. It is not enough to passively incorporate tools and apps into our daily routines; we must actively manage our digital consumption to ensure it serves our pursuit of happiness rather than detracts from it. By doing so, we not only enhance our individual well-being but also contribute to a healthier, happier society.

The Mudita approach to happiness is grounded in understanding and managing the intersection of technology and human needs, providing a blueprint for thriving in our modern world. 

It reminds us that while our devices and apps are powerful, our happiness ultimately hinges on how well we maintain the human elements of health, relationships, beauty, work, and philosophy.