For the longest time, I thought that being in a consistent state of happiness is the most important life goal. While I had learnt from a young age that materialistic achievements would not get me there, I still believed that I could find just the right set of tools and techniques to trick my mind into being happy always regardless of life circumstances.

Now I recognize that the goal itself was wrong. Happiness is not a consistent feeling. It is experienced sporadically throughout life in two forms.

• Instantaneous moments of joy like when we get a gift or a promotion.
• A state of flow like organizing a surprise party with family or working with a team to deliver a new idea.

In both cases, it is not something pursued but rather experienced in the moment or hindsight. In fact, those who pursue happiness are less likely to experience it.

A more worthwhile goal to work towards with deliberation is leading a meaningful life. When our steps are aligned in the direction of our life purpose and we invest in connecting / engaging with others, these moments of happiness are more likely to occur.