Countless studies show happiness is more than just the feeling of satisfaction, that happiness is not bought, and that happiness is from within.One of the factors that influences happiness is pleasure. Pleasure is a fundamental feeling that people desire to experience. But many people disagree. Some say pleasure is just temporary, that happiness from pleasure just lasts for a short time and the feeling comes back to normal. According to Meetu Kumar from ICFAI National College in India, pleasure is short lived while happiness is eternal.

So, what can people do to attain happiness in the long-run?

The logical answer maybe when people do what they love to. Because along the process, they gain happiness. But this is not a good way as exhaustion will happen. A good example by Dr. Margaret Paul, a famed author and speaker, is a situation in a night club. People who frequent night clubs intend to drink, dance and stay up late at night. Although the experience gives them pleasure, doing it often will make then sick and fatigue. It can also take a toll in their personal and working life.

You might pursue momentary pleasure, believing that your happiness is the same as pleasure. When this is your belief, you might pursue happiness through substances such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine, or food. Or you might pursue happiness through activities such as sex, spending or gambling.

This does not mean we should abandon having pleasure. Epicurus said that happiness is eliminating the pains and sufferings and accentuating on the pleasure.

If we want to experience happiness in its truest sense, the we need to look into ourselves, into our hearts and minds. As what I’ve written in the past articles, everything is in the mind.

Start by pinpointing first the problem, then look for the necessary procedures or steps to attain happiness. After all, we are responsible for our own feelings.
Sources: www.ezinearticles.com, www.msnbc.msn.com