By Yael Tangir, Business Editor
When people are asked if they are happy, they usually reply “yes” or “no” without a second thought. But have you ever stopped and asked yourself: What is happiness? Is it something we genuinely strive for and can achieve, or just an abstract idea we’ve been conditioned to chase? Is it a goal, a feeling, a mindset or all of these things at once?
As some get ready to graduate and step into the “real world,” these questions start to hit even harder. Everyone talks about finding happiness, chasing dreams and doing what you love. But maybe the real challenge isn’t finding happiness., but rather, figuring out what matters to us in the first place.
We spend a lot of time trying to avoid discomfort, look successful and stay in control. But in the middle of all that, we forget about something quieter, and maybe more important: contentment. That sense of peace that doesn’t come from getting everything you want, but from accepting where you are and who you are, flaws and all.
So why is contentment always treated like a backup plan? Like something we settle for instead of celebrating? This mindset plays out in all kinds of ways, like when someone chooses a stable job they enjoy, but is told they’re “playing it safe.” Or when people feel pressure to keep chasing the next big achievement, as if being satisfied with what you have means you’ve stopped trying.
It’s as if contentment isn’t seen as ambitious enough, like it can’t coexist with success or growth.
But maybe what makes life meaningful is not just how many happy or “successful” moments we collect, but how much we grow through the ups and downs. And maybe true happiness isn’t about constant excitement or achievement, but rather, finding fulfillment in the long run. When we stop chasing the idea of happiness as a peak moment and instead seek purpose and meaning, we find something more lasting.
I used to chase happiness, the big moments, the adrenaline, the idea that I could find contentment in external success. But over time, I realized that chasing happiness alone left me feeling empty. There’s always something else to strive for, and happiness just keeps moving further away. In my personal journey, I learned to redefine success, not as a collection of peak moments, but as an ongoing process of growth and what truly matters to me. These days, I focus more on contentment and fulfillment, enjoying where I am in the moment instead of constantly running toward the next goal. It’s a quieter, more stable path, but it feels far more rewarding in the long run.
We live in a world that celebrates milestones, graduations and job promotions, as if those are the finish lines. But what if life isn’t about getting somewhere? What if it’s about becoming someone, little by little, through all the in-between moments? We’re taught from a young age to plan, to aim for the next big thing. We get asked as children what we want to be when we grow up, as if becoming is a final state. But the truth is, we’re always changing and evolving; there’s no final version of us.
Yes, change is scary. So is uncertainty. But those are the places where we grow the most. We want to feel in control, but sometimes the most meaningful experiences happen when we let go and trust the process.
And then there’s pain. We try to avoid it, but maybe pain isn’t the enemy. Maybe it’s here to teach us something, to help us see what really matters. Without pain, we wouldn’t have space for real joy. So maybe the goal isn’t happiness or even contentment. Maybe it’s wholeness, the ability to live with both the hard and the beautiful parts of life, without needing to push one away in order to feel the other. Real strength comes from being able to say, “This is all part of who I am.”
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my still very short life, it’s this: We’re not here by accident. Especially as Jews, we carry a deeper mission. We don’t just chase happiness, we chase purpose. In a world focused on the self, we are here to give and care, to build something meaningful, not just for ourselves, but for others, too.
Happiness comes and goes. But purpose stays.