There have been recent discussions regarding the elements of 'happiness' and their measurement within the broader context of success. Historically, shelter, food and security were success. Reproductive success, successfully raising young and passing along your genes. The true standards of life. Essentially, if you were fed, warm/dry, and safe, life was pretty good - and you were happy. And family made it happier.
Our societies have (mostly) advanced to the extent that today's simple needs for life are more a given than a challenge or a pursuit. The real choices are these days are more about that have become our 'other' life requisites. Convenience, comfort, and entertainment. Some in the name of efficiency and productivity. In others, just plain lazy. In some people's view these elements are the new modern happiness metrics. Quality of life metrics. Even to the extent there has also been discussion about changing the typical GDP as measure of a society's performance to one with a happiness quotient of sorts.
My last decade has offered me plenty of perspective in this regard. And this particular segment reflects a lot of what I have come to believe. For me, the REAL key is that whatever it is you are doing, one needs to be able to ask/answer the following: is it by your choice, and if not why not? And maybe more so, does it align with your broadly held values? We make choices every single minute of every day. Every choice has a consequence, and often we do not take the necessary time to clearly identify, and understand that our choices are .... fully our own. In my view happiness comes from the freedom to make choices.
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