Happiness, a word that holds a different meaning for every individual, has been debated and discussed for centuries. Some people believe that happiness comes from material possessions, while others think it is a state of mind. Happiness has been measured by various parameters, including the famous Gallup poll, which attempts to quantify people’s happiness levels worldwide. However, can happiness be measured through a survey or a mathematical formula? Or is it something more profound, which cannot be quantified but only experienced?

The Gallup poll on happiness is a well-established measure of people’s subjective well-being worldwide. However, when it comes to emerging economies like South Africa, there are some concerns about the applicability of this measure.

One of the main issues is that the Gallup poll tends to focus on the individual’s subjective feelings of happiness and satisfaction rather than the broader socio-economic factors that contribute to overall well-being. In emerging economies like South Africa, there are often significant disparities in access to resources such as education, healthcare, and necessities, which can significantly impact people’s happiness and well-being.

Mo Gawdat, a former Chief Business Officer at Google X, believes that happiness is an internal state of being and cannot be achieved by accumulating wealth or material possessions. He formulated the equation, Happiness = Reality – Expectations, which suggests that happiness is a function of how aligned our expectations are with the reality of our lives. According to Gawdat, we can achieve happiness by managing our expectations and accepting the reality of our lives.

However, the question remains, how does this relate to most teens and young adults in South Africa? South Africa is rampant in poverty, and many teenagers live in dire circumstances. They face various challenges, including a lack of education, job opportunities, healthcare, and necessities. Can these teenagers achieve happiness by managing their expectations and accepting their reality?

 I posed the question, “What is your personal definition of happiness?” to two young adults. 

Stiven Inacio, 20 – Studies Bcom Honours in management 

Happiness to me includes a certain degree of freedom. It means being able to do the things you need and some of the things that you want to a certain extent, and for that, there’s a specific need for conditions to all align properly for you to have that freedom. 

So that goes with your financial resources, including the prices of doing things and buying things in the country, the accessibility and things like that. I would say lower prices for things like food, and entertainment. 

Shanaz Chamwaita, 20 – Studies marketing and works part-time

I think happiness is having good health, happiness is having loved ones around, and happiness is being able to exercise what I love. 

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Unlock the secrets of your heart and share with us: what does true happiness mean to you?

For further reading on the pursuit of happiness, check out this article which offers a personal perspective on the topic here