Happiness: is not the destination, but the journey

In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, happiness is the new milestone or finish line. We often tell ourselves: “I’ll be happy, once I get that job, buy that car, lose those pounds, or find the right partner.” It is a mirage… where happiness seems to slide away, each time we think we’ve reached it.

The simple but profound reason behind this is that happiness is not a destination but the journey that unfolds moment by moment every day.

The Mirage called Happiness

Consider the story of Justin Rosenstein, the Silicon Valley icon who helped invent Facebook’s like button. He had amassed everything – wealth, success, and power — that brings happiness by his 30s. Still he was not at peace and often found himself trapped in a vicious cycle of isolation and emptiness.

To set things right, he gave up his material assets, dramatically reduced technology use, and focused on mindful living. This is when he learnt that real happiness is not to be found in likes or accolades but in being fully present in each moment.

Joy in simplicity

In the serene Japanese island of Okinawa centenarians do not chase happiness. They live it every single day inspired by Ikigai, a Japanese concept that loosely translates to “a reason for being” or “waking up in the morning.” It refers to the common segment where what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for (or rewarded) overlap.  Ikigai in traditional Japanese culture, does not necessarily involve money or work — it can be anything that gives you a meaning in life and makes you feel fulfilled. Ikigai means having a purpose in life — which could be tending to the garden, preparing meals, or chatting with neighbours. It is not about ambition but about contentment through small joys which lead to long and happy lives.

Anita Moorjani: She found happiness on the edge of death

Hong Kong-born author and speaker Anita Moorjani’s describes herself as a people-pleaser, constantly trying to live up to others’ expectation – whether it was about career, marriage, or being a “good girl.” Born in Singapore to Indian parents and raised in Hong Kong, Anita was diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer. She describes the unhappy experience in her bestselling book “Dying to Be Me”. Over four years, her health deteriorated rapidly despite conventional and alternative treatments. After battling cancer for four years Anita went into a coma in 2006. The doctors gave up and declared that she had only a few hours to live. In this coma, Anita claims to have experienced a near-death experience, which made her understand the truths about life. In her own words, she felt immense love and acceptance, unlike anything she had known. She realized that much of her life had been ruled by fear, which had weakened her physically and spiritually. She was given a choice — to continue into death or return to life. Choosing life, she awoke from the coma within 30 hours, to the astonishment of doctors and family. Over the next few weeks, her tumours miraculously dissolved and even her cancer disappeared within weeks – a fact which can be verified by her medical records. After this life-altering experience, Anita Moorjani’s approach to life and definition of happiness changed drastically. She realised that happiness doesn’t came from escaping life’s storms, but learning to dance in the rain. She now urges people not to chase happiness externally and instead connect with their inner selves. In her own words:

“I had spent a lifetime judging myself harshly and not feeling good enough. In the other realm, I realized none of that mattered. Simply being was enough. That is happiness.”

Mellen-Thomas Benedict: The Cosmic Perspective

Another powerful NDE story is that of Mellen-Thomas Benedict an American inventor who was clinically dead for about 90 minutes due to terminal brain cancer in 1982. During this time, he described leaving his body, observing the Earth from space, and entering what he called the Light of God — not a personified being, but pure consciousness and infinite wisdom.

This experience made him understand how every action and word has both positive and negative impact on others. However, the most profound moment came when he asked the light about the meaning of life. The answer he received was that:

“The essence of life is joy, creativity, and unconditional love.”

Upon his return:

• His cancer was mysteriously gone.
• He became deeply interested in science and the environment.
• He invented several devices, wrote and lectured extensively, and became an advocate for blending science and spirituality.

For Benedict, happiness was no longer tied to survival, success, or recognition. It became synonymous with:

• Joy in creating and sharing.
• Loving without conditions or fear.
• Experiencing life as a miraculous and interconnected flow.

His story reminds us that happiness may not require seeking — only remembering who we truly are beneath fear and ego.

Mother Teresa – Service before self

For Mother Teresa, happiness was never about personal gain. Working among the poor and sick in Kolkata, she saw immense suffering daily. Her pursuit was not personal comfort or material pleasures. Living amidst extreme poverty and tending to the abandoned, lepers, and dying, she witnessed sorrow every day. Yet, those who met her often spoke of her radiant inner peace and smile. To her, service was the path to happiness, a reminder that selflessness and compassion often unlock the deepest contentment. She summed up her philosophy as:

“The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action. And the fruit of service is peace.”

Through selfless action, she experienced what many mystics and saints have echoed across time — that giving and caring dissolve ego and suffering, making space for boundless compassion and joy. Her life teaches us that happiness doesn’t always come from ease or abundance. It often comes from:

• Easing another’s burden.
• Sitting silently besides the suffering.
• Offering kindness without expectation

In Mother Teresa’s case, service was not sacrifice but fulfilment. By serving others, she transcended personal pain and found lasting happiness.

Modern workplaces: the quiet revolution 

In the heart of glass towers and fast-paced boardrooms, a silent transformation is taking place. The traditional notion of workplace happiness — once synonymous with bonuses, corner offices, and perks — is being redefined.

In the modern workplace, once driven solely by competition and performance, mindfulness has reintroduced the human element. At companies like Google, where innovation and competition run high, happiness has been distilled into something much simpler. The objective is to make people better employees — and happier humans. This is increasingly giving rise to the realization that:

Happiness is not found in doing more — but in being fully present in whatever you do.

The Universal Lesson: Happiness is Already Here

From deathbeds and divine light to soup kitchens and boardrooms, a universal message emerges:

• Happiness does not reside in the future. It lives in the now.
• It is not found in getting, but in giving and letting go.
• It is not unlocked by success, but by self-acceptance, service, and presence.

Whether through Anita Moorjani’s fearless rebirth, Mellen Benedict’s cosmic revelations, Mother Teresa’s compassionate service, or Google employees finding peace through mindfulness — the path is clear.

• Happiness is not something to chase.
• It is something to embody — step by step, moment by moment.

In the end, happiness is closer than we think. It’s not hidden in extraordinary achievements but lies in the way we live, love, and breathe every single day.