I suppose the most important question is “What is happiness?”
It’s a tough question. There are so many possibilities, so many interpretations. There is no reality outside our own minds, so I guess it comes down to you.
There is no evolutionary purpose “happiness” has in the form humans understand it. It is a construct developed by humans to simply define their lives as being “pleasurable” or “painful”. We can’t even describe happiness. We don’t know what it is, or even how to “get” it. We know nothing of it, yet we so desperately grasp to its existence.
There comes a point when you stop worrying about happiness. It becomes a theory, that you ponder as anyone would, but you stop desiring it. It no longer becomes necessary to fulfill your desires. Maybe its because you are “happy” or maybe it is because you realize that happiness isn’t some sort of end where the sun sets and everything is picture perfect. I don’t really know. All I know is that I could give a damn about happiness now. I don’t worry about whether it exists or not. I’m happy in the sense that I am living a good life, which is enough for me. I don’t think of happiness as some mystifying entity that is beyond my understanding. I suppose I’m “happy” so I don’t worry about whether it exists or not.
To answer your question; in a pure scientific sense, happiness has no physical reason to exist, therefore it cannot exist. On the other side of the coin perception is the most important factor in reality. What is reality? Can anyone tell me the truth about everything? That’s how I’d define reality; the truth. The truth changes. It not only changes, but varies from person to person. Just when you think you have had a glimpse at the “truth” another case appears that completely contradicts your ideas. Truth is objective, humans are not.
Therefore, happiness is simply an oxymoron. People are happy being depressed and stressed. That is a decision they have made whether they are aware of it at a conscious level or not. They claim they are not happy, but we look from a “higher” level of perception and can clearly see that they wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s quite simple. We all go about our lives in our own way. We scrutinize others in an attempt to force ourselves into believing that there is no higher level of reality than the one we are trapped in. This is evident everywhere you look. Everyone thinks that they are right and everyone else is wrong. It’s still nothing more than subjective perceptions.
Happiness is subjective. It should suit you the best way possible. Happiness can even come in the form of unhappiness...
Although i know happiness doesn't exist, i have to believe it does. My entire perception of this world would fall apart without it.