How to Find Real Happiness? Happiness is real when shared
- Haobam Pravinsen
- Jun 19, 2024
- 3 min read

How to Find Real Happiness? Happiness is real when shared
In today's contemporary society where virtual communications and social media peak happiness is frequently measured by success and accomplishment resulting in confusion and disillusionment amongst society, especially the young generation.
The false advertising and ubiquitous influence of social media create unrealistic expectations and a superficial lifestyle leading to a senseless understanding of life. As interactions with other individuals are trapped in this virtual circle, it creates a problematic narrative that success is well synonymous with happiness and fulfillment.
The success-happiness Paradox:
Since a very young age, we have been taught that success equals happiness in life, and it is deeply rooted in different cultures. Since the beginning of our careers, people around us have encouraged us to accomplish milestones, particularly in academics by securing high marks or securing a position in high-paying jobs.
Indeed, achieving this goal will bring satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment but the problem arises when success is considered the primary or sole reason for happiness overshadowing the fact that other aspects of life such as our relationship with others and our personal growth and mental well-being are also crucial.
The role of false advertising:
The success-happiness as the narrative is also reinforced by the false advertisement. Companies by linking happiness with their products promote a materialistic lifestyle by falsely advertising it as a successful and fulfilling lifestyle. Whether that be the latest gadget, a luxury car, or a fashion trend especially fast fashion trends, advertising these products promises the consumers that these items will fill the void within themselves.
This creates a culture amongst the consumer where happiness and fulfillment of life are interlinked with a materialistic lifestyle and material world. Consequently, we as an individual often find ourselves in this perpetual circle of seeking more and never fully satisfied with whatever we have.
Social Media and the Cult of Perfection:
Social media amplifies this issue of false validation, providing an inaccurate platform where we create a carefully curated life, showcasing only the positive expectations of a life. These social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and even YouTube are brimming with images and videos that enforce narratives depicting glamorous lifestyles which is highly influential. Behind every perfect image and story, there lies a narrative of struggle, effort, and even emptiness.
Generally, we as a user get influenced by these idealist versions of other people's lives which results in a feeling of inadequacy as we compare our lives. Young people are likely to be more affected by this phenomenon especially teenagers who are still developing their identity and are highly impressionable also, this phenomenon damages the authenticity of those who are being influenced.

Real-life implications:
The way we interact with people is trapped in this literal mindset, revealing the depth of the problem. Many of us show the belief that success equals happiness and feel compelled to reach a specific milestone without even reflecting on our true desires and passions.
This behavior often results in burnout, anxiety, and a sense of unfulfillment even if we seem to be successful through social measures we often feel empty inside. This needs to run only after advancement in our career to be successful also strains our relationships as we start prioritizing our public image over authentic connections with other individuals around us.
Finding authentic happiness: Happiness is real when shared.
It is very essential to redefine our concept of happiness to address this issue. We should keep in mind that true happiness is multi-fetched and deeply rooted in personal involvement as various factors are to be balanced such as a meaningful relationship, mental well-being, personal growth, physical health, and a sense of purposefulness. In short happiness is real when shared We need to shift our focus from external indicators of success to internal measures of well-being. To facilitate this shift of perspective we need to promote quality education, and mental health awareness and encourage self-reflection and mindfulness.
As we are being influenced by what we see, advertising on social media platforms plays a very critical role in this paradigm shift. It is also essential for companies to aim for authenticity in their marketing steering clear of unrealistic expectations of happiness and success. Also, social media influencers and users can move forward by sharing more genuine and diverse experiences fostering a culture of authenticity and empathy.
Conclusion:
As we all know the confusion between happiness and success is a significant challenge but acknowledging the role of false advertisement and social media in promoting this never-ending myth of a glamorous lifestyle. We can start to encourage a more nuanced and authentic understanding of happiness. True collective efforts we can convert an environment where all of us feel empowered to pursue our unique path of fulfillment and passion which makes us feel free from the constraints of unrealistic expectations of society.
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