People from different walks of life, young or old, male or female, Negro or Caucasian, in so far as they are alive, seeks relentlessly for happiness. Nobody is exempted in the pursuit of happiness, though; people seek for it in diverse ways. The armed robber, the political office holders (that embezzle and defraud the nation), the prostitutes, beggars, students, farmers, lecturers, journalists etc are all seeking for one thing, and that is happiness.
Sometimes, peoples’ quest for happiness takes them beyond countries, continents and once they find that happiness, such people do spend the rest of their lives in those countries. People do these things because they see them as means to happiness.
The fact that everybody seek for happiness does not mean that they all find it, though they seek it in many ways. Majority do not find happiness because they seek for it in the wrong direction. Such people mistakenly identify happiness with money and believe that the wealthier one is the happier he becomes. They do not listen to the voice of reason and they even throw morality to the winds. The notion that money brings happiness is an illusion.
Some also equate happiness with pleasure. Both money and pleasure are short-lived, transitory and goes as soon as the activity it accompanies ends. Like the Igbos would say, “Ego gwu, enyi a naa” meaning when there is no money there is no friends.
Happiness is a stable state of mind which accompanies peace of mind and moral rectitude. Happiness does not come with the performance of any particular action as is the case with pleasure and money. Neither money, sex nor drinking necessarily brings happiness, for one can indulge and still be unhappy.
The condition sine quo non for happiness is moral rectitude, that is, a virtuous way of life. To substitute virtue for money is to substitute happiness for pleasure. The virtuous man is a wise man and cannot deviate from the path of happiness. Other necessary requirements for happiness are clear conscience, peace of mind, faithful discharge of one’s duties, self discipline and contentment. All these are keys to happiness which come through moral uprightness.
