Happiness defined

What does it mean to be “happy”?  There is the unselfish answer of “knowing that we have made others happy”, but that only pushes the question back one level.  Who defines “happy”?  We can say “the church”, but then the first answer of “knowing that we have made others happy” breaks down.  We would only then be happy if the happiness of the other was defined by the church.  If someone else’s “happy” is self-centered and passion-based, then we will have failed.  We will then not be happy, as the happiness of others is false and we have not achieved.  Nor should we want to achieve that which is contrary to what the church believes and teaches to be true.

But maybe achieving “happiness” is not actually the goal of the Christian life.  Happiness may be a short sighted and selfish goal.  If we are, instead, supposed to achieve holiness, regardless of how we feel, then our lives will be one of struggle, repentance, tears and suffering, as the world will not understand us, support us, or care for us.  Even those closest to us will probably not understand, as the pursuit of holiness seems to be a rare occurrence.