Claiming Happiness in a Modern World — The Many Faces of Happiness (2 of 2)

In the first blog entry, we spent time with several individual voices. Thinkers, writers, and psychologists who, each in their own way, wrestled with the timeless question of what it means to live well and find happiness. In this second entry, we widen the lens. Rather than focusing on singular perspectives, we turn toward the traditions that have carried these same questions across centuries. The belief systems that shaped entire civilizations. The philosophical and spiritual frameworks that helped people make sense of happiness, suffering, purpose, duty, and fulfillment. These traditions forged a shared understandings of what a good life looks like, many of which continue to influence how we think about happiness today.

This is not an attempt to elevate one tradition above another or to offer a prescribed path forward. Instead, it is an invitation to notice what we have inherited. The assumptions we carry about what happiness should look like. The expectations we place on ourselves and others. The quiet rules that shape our striving, our disappointments, and our sense of whether we are doing life correctly. Seen through this wider lens, happiness becomes less about finding the right answer and more about understanding the framework we are operating within. That kind of awareness creates room for reflection and curiosity. Not the work of adopting someone else’s definition of a life well-lived, but the work of choosing, with intention, what truly aligns with who we are rather than simply repeating what we were taught.

We start with transcendentalism, a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the early to mid-19th century in New England. It emphasized the inherent goodness of people and nature, the value of individual intuition, and the belief that individuals are capable of generating profound insights through personal reflection and a close connection with nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 to 1882) is often considered the leading figure of Transcendentalism. His essays, such as "Self-Reliance" and "Nature," championed the idea that individuals should trust their own inner voice and that true knowledge comes from looking within and experiencing the world directly. Emerson’s vision encouraged people to break free from conformity and to seek a deeper, more personal connection with the universe.

Henry David Thoreau (1817 to 1862), another central Transcendentalist, is best known for his work "Walden," in which he chronicled his experiment of living simply in nature to better understand life and find spiritual truth. Thoreau’s writings emphasize self-sufficiency, the importance of nature as a teacher, and the idea that a meaningful life is one lived deliberately and authentically. Transcendentalism offers a lens of individual empowerment, encouraging people to trust their intuition, find inspiration in nature, and seek a life of deeper meaning beyond societal expectations. It's a perspective that fits nicely into the broader conversation about different ways to find happiness and fulfillment in the modern world.

Among the many philosophical traditions that have shaped ideas about a life well lived, Stoicism stands out for its emphasis on inner stability. Developed in ancient Greece, it teaches that tranquility comes not from shaping the world to our liking, but from shaping our responses to it. By learning to recognize the limits of our control and tending carefully to our attitudes and actions, Stoicism offers a grounded and enduring approach to navigating life with purpose.

Historically, Stoicism was shaped by influential figures like Seneca (4 BCE to 65 CE) and the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 to 180 CE). Seneca emphasized the practice of reflecting on one’s day, reviewing moments of frustration or challenge, and considering how to respond more virtuously in the future. Marcus Aurelius, in his "Meditations," often reflected on viewing obstacles as opportunities to practice patience, humility, and perseverance. In our own time, the modern author Ryan Holiday has revived these Stoic principles for contemporary audiences. He has translated these ancient ideas into practical tools, such as turning adversity into an advantage, practicing stillness to find clarity, and focusing on the present moment rather than being overwhelmed by the future. Ultimately, Stoicism invites us to see that happiness is something we cultivate from within by living according to our values and viewing life’s trials as opportunities for growth.

In practical terms, Stoicism is part of our conversation on happiness because it offers concrete ways to find stability and fulfillment in a world that’s often beyond our control. One of the central Stoic practices is the idea of the “dichotomy of control,” which encourages us to focus our energy only on what we can influence—our own choices and actions—while letting go of anxiety about things we cannot control. Another practical Stoic tool is the use of negative visualization, which involves occasionally contemplating worst-case scenarios to build resilience and appreciate what we have. By preparing our minds for adversity, we can face difficulties with greater calm and gratitude. These practices, along with the Stoic emphasis on living according to one’s values, help us cultivate a durable form of happiness that doesn’t depend on external events. In this way, Stoicism gives us a set of philosophical tools to navigate life’s uncertainties and find a steady path to a more grounded and meaningful sense of well-being.

As we transition into the realm of spiritual traditions, we find ourselves among a wide array of the world’s major faiths: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and others, as well as those who identify as agnostic or spiritually unaffiliated. Over centuries, these traditions have offered enduring frameworks for navigating life and understanding our place in the world. Yet, throughout history, deep attachment to certain beliefs has sometimes led to profound tragedies and conflicts, even though the original aim was to seek meaning and understanding. In this discussion, we approach these traditions with neutrality and respect, recognizing that each contributes a valuable perspective to a larger conversation about living well. In the next part, we’ll look more closely at Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Christianity, one of the world’s major spiritual traditions, offers a vision of a life well lived that is deeply rooted in love, service, and a relationship with a higher purpose. At its heart are the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized compassion, forgiveness, humility, and the transformative power of caring for others. In this perspective, happiness is not pursued as an end in itself but emerges naturally when one’s life aligns with these spiritual and moral values.

Christianity is best understood not as a single uniform expression, but as a broad and varied tradition that has taken many forms across cultures and history. Within this shared inheritance exist Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and evangelical traditions, among others, each shaped by distinct theological emphases, worship practices, and cultural contexts. Acknowledging this diversity allows us to approach Christianity not as one fixed interpretation, but as a tradition expressed in many ways.

Two influential voices within Christianity who have spoken thoughtfully to the question of happiness and a life worth living are St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 to 1274) and C.S. Lewis (1898 to 1963). Aquinas, a medieval theologian deeply influenced by both Christian theology and classical philosophy, understood true happiness as the fulfillment of the human soul in relation to the divine. For him, happiness was not rooted in pleasure or success, but in a life shaped by virtue, reason, and alignment with God’s wisdom. Cultivating qualities such as love, justice, humility, and charity was not merely moral discipline, but a path toward deeper fulfillment and spiritual wholeness.

C.S. Lewis, writing centuries later, approached the same question through story, metaphor, and reflection rather than formal theology. He often suggested that happiness cannot be grasped directly but emerges when one’s attention is oriented toward something beyond the self. In his writing, joy appears as a kind of signpost, pointing toward a deeper reality rather than serving as an end in itself. For Lewis, a life worth living is one marked by surrender, moral clarity, and a willingness to seek meaning beyond immediate comfort, trusting that joy follows when one’s life is aligned with a greater purpose.

Christianity offers one way of thinking about how love, service, and purpose shape a meaningful life. Looking beyond this tradition allows us to see how other spiritual paths, shaped by different histories and cultures have approached these same human concerns. Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the world’s oldest and most influential spiritual traditions, each offering practical guidance on how to live with purpose, balance, and care. Hinduism, which developed over thousands of years, is less a single doctrine than a wide collection of teachings, stories, and practices. At its core are a few guiding ideas. Dharma refers to living with integrity and responsibility within one’s life circumstances. Karma reflects the understanding that our actions matter and have consequences. Moksha points toward liberation or freedom, often understood simply as release from suffering and confusion rather than something abstract or distant. In this view, a good life is one shaped by ethical action, self-understanding, and spiritual reflection.

Buddhism emerged later within the same cultural landscape. Buddhism begins with a very direct observation of human experience. It teaches that dissatisfaction and suffering are part of life, largely because we cling to what is uncertain or impermanent. This insight is organized into what are known as the Four Noble Truths. First, that suffering exists. Second, that suffering is intensified by craving and attachment. Third, that relief from suffering is possible. And fourth, that there is a practical path toward that relief through wise action, mindful awareness, and compassion. Importantly, Buddhism does not require exclusive belief. Many people practice Buddhist principles such as mindfulness and compassion alongside other spiritual or religious traditions.

Rather than focusing on belief, Buddhism emphasizes practice. Attention to the present moment, care in speech and action, and kindness toward oneself and others are central themes. These ideas have resonated strongly in modern times, particularly as people search for ways to navigate stress, uncertainty, and emotional pain. Teachers such as Pema Chödrönhave helped make these teachings accessible by encouraging people to stay present with difficulty rather than avoiding it, cultivating courage and self-compassion in the process. Thich Nhat Hanh emphasized mindful living in everyday life, showing how simple acts like breathing, walking, and listening can become sources of calm and clarity.

Taken together, Hinduism and Buddhism offer complementary ways of understanding what it means to live well. Both emphasize ethical living, self-awareness, and inner cultivation rather than the pursuit of happiness as a goal in itself. Instead, happiness is understood as something that emerges when life is lived with intention, awareness, and care. In this sense, these traditions contribute meaningfully to our broader exploration, reminding us that a life worth living often begins with how we relate to our own inner experience.

Nihilism is yet another philosophical perspective that emerged most prominently in the 19th century, particularly associated with the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 to 1900). At its core, Nihilism is the belief that life lacks inherent meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. This viewpoint can be unsettling, as it challenges the foundations of moral values, religious beliefs, and societal norms. Nietzsche is often considered the most influential proponent of Nihilism, though he did not advocate for it as an end point but rather diagnosed it as a condition of modernity that had to be overcome. He famously declared "God is dead," reflecting the decline of traditional religious and moral frameworks in the face of modernity.

For Nietzsche, the challenge was to move beyond Nihilism and create new values that affirm life. In terms of understanding the good life, Nihilism forces us to confront the absence of predetermined meaning and to ask whether we can create our own purpose. It challenges us to find personal and authentic values in a world that may not offer them by default. While it can seem bleak, some find in Nihilism a call to individual freedom and the opportunity to define their own version of a meaningful life.

As we continue exploring different philosophical perspectives on what it means to live a good life, we come to the concept of hedonism. Hedonism is a philosophical viewpoint that places pleasure and the avoidance of pain at the center of the human experience. At its simplest, hedonism suggests that the best life is one that seeks to maximize pleasure and minimize suffering.

Two of the most notable ancient figures associated with hedonistic philosophy are Aristippus of Cyrene (circa 435 to 356 BCE) and Epicurus (341 to 270 BCE). Aristippus, a student of Socrates, taught that pleasure was the ultimate goal of life and that immediate physical pleasures were especially valuable. He believed that enjoying the moment was key and that one should pursue pleasure without guilt, as long as it didn’t lead to greater pain in the long run. Epicurus, however, offered a more nuanced version of hedonism. He argued that the highest form of pleasure was not found in constant indulgence, but in achieving a state of tranquility or ataraxia, which comes from freedom from fear and the absence of bodily pain. For Epicurus, the most pleasant life was one of modesty, simple pleasures, intellectual contemplation, and friendship.

Hedonism is often misunderstood as a call to reckless indulgence or a life of excess. In reality, both Aristippus and especially Epicurus offered more thoughtful approaches to pleasure. They suggested that a fulfilling life involves balancing pleasure with wisdom, self-control, and an awareness of long-term well-being. We include hedonism in our discussion of happiness because it highlights the importance of joy and the role of pleasure in a well-lived life. By understanding hedonism, we recognize that part of human fulfillment comes from allowing ourselves to experience joy and from thoughtfully incorporating pleasure into our pursuit of a balanced and meaningful existence.

Lastly, existentialism is less a rigid system of beliefs and more a way of engaging honestly with the experience of being human. At its core, it begins with the recognition that life does not arrive with guaranteed meaning, clear instructions, or predetermined purpose. Instead of viewing this as a problem to be solved, existentialism treats it as a condition to be faced. It asks what it means to live responsibly, courageously, and truthfully in the presence of uncertainty.

A central idea within existentialism is freedom. Human beings are not merely shaped by circumstance, tradition, or expectation. We are continually making choices, whether we are aware of them or not. With that freedom comes responsibility. Existential thinkers argue that we cannot fully escape accountability for how we live, even when external forces are strong. Avoiding choice is itself a choice. From this perspective, much of human distress comes not only from suffering, but from denying or avoiding the responsibility that accompanies freedom.

These ideas are powerfully expressed in the work of Soren Kierkegaard (1813 to 1855) and Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 to 1980). Kierkegaard emphasized the deeply personal nature of truth, arguing that meaning is not something one simply inherits, but something one commits to through choice. Sartre pushed this further by insisting that humans are not born with a fixed essence. Instead, we become who we are through our actions. His often-quoted idea that we are responsible for creating ourselves reflects the existential belief that identity is shaped through lived decisions rather than discovered as a predefined trait.

Within existentialism, happiness is not understood as comfort, pleasure, or the absence of struggle. Instead, it is closely tied to authenticity. To live authentically means acknowledging uncertainty, acting in alignment with one’s values, and accepting the emotional weight that comes with meaningful choice. Existentialism suggests that a life worth living is not one free from anxiety or doubt, but one in which those experiences are met with honesty rather than avoidance. Happiness, in this view, is not a destination but a byproduct of living deliberately and truthfully.

In the context of our broader exploration, existentialism offers an important reminder. Even amid systems of belief, scientific insight, or spiritual guidance, there remains a deeply personal task that cannot be outsourced. Each person must decide how to live, what matters, and how to respond to the conditions of their own life. Existentialism does not promise ease, but it offers dignity, agency, and the possibility of meaning grounded in choice.

As we draw The Many Faces of Happiness to a close, we stand before a remarkable mosaic of wisdom. From the ancient dialogues of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to the modern insights of Martin Seligman, Arthur Brooks, and Matthieu Ricard, we’ve encountered a rich spectrum of perspectives on what it means to live well. Along the way, figures like Viktor Frankl and Blaise Pascal have urged us to find meaning even in hardship, while Marsha Linehan and Andrew Huberman have offered practical tools for our emotional lives. Each voice adds a distinct piece to our understanding, reminding us that the art of happiness has been explored across many ages, disciplines, and cultures.

As we’ve woven these individual threads together, we’ve also traveled through entire traditions—transcendentalism’s emphasis on self-trust, Stoicism’s call for inner clarity and determination, Christianity’s focus on love and moral vision, the expansive spiritual landscapes of Hinduism and Buddhism, the stark honesty of nihilism, the pleasure centered questions of hedonism, and the responsibility at the heart of existentialism. Together, these traditions form a broad and nuanced landscape rather than a single path. What emerges is not a final answer, but an invitation to find your own way through a rich diversity of ideas.

As we conclude this chapter, it’s fitting to return to the relationship between our inner world and our outer world. Throughout these explorations, we’ve seen how the outer world shapes us through culture, relationships, and circumstance. Yet across these philosophies and traditions, one truth reappears: it is often our inner world—our interpretation, our response, our inner orientation that ultimately shapes our experience of life.

In the next entry of Claiming Happiness in a Modern World, we’ll turn our focus inward. We’ll explore what we call foundational stability: the inner conditions that allow us to meet life with clarity, balance, and resilience. Like Alice stepping through the looking glass or Neo choosing to see beyond illusion of the Matrix, we are invited to see our own inner landscape with fresh eyes. It’s a gentle reminder that we have the power to choose what we believe, how we respond, and who we become.

If these reflections have resonated with you, we warmly invite you to continue the conversation in our new process group, Claiming Happiness in a Modern World. You can find all the details on the group’s page at https://intowncounseling.com/claiming-happiness-in-a-modern-world/. We invite you to join the conversation in the comments by sharing the thinkers or traditions that have influenced how you understand a life well lived. If you’d like to stay updated on future entries, including our next blog on foundational stability and the practices that help us cultivate it, we invite you to subscribe and be part of this ongoing conversation.

We look forward to continuing this journey with you, exploring together what it means to claim happiness in our modern world.