Dr. Anjana (Interviewer): Happiness means different things to different people. In history, Alexander the Great defined it as conquering the world, while Lord Buddha found contentment in renunciation. How do you see happiness, Professor?

Prof. Santosh Shrivastav: Happiness isn’t a one-size-fits-all commodity. Our happiness depends on the interaction of both happiness and unhappiness. We feel happy when our happiness outweighs our unhappiness. I call it net happiness. When your net happiness is stable you reach stable happiness or happiness equilibrium. In other words, Happiness Equilibrium (HE) can be defined as, “The state when one feels stable net happiness. It is the state when one is cheerful, relaxed, satisfied and settled.” This is the Real Happiness.

The happiness equation is expressed under:

Net Happiness = Happiness – Unhappiness = Quality of Life

Stable Net Happiness = Happiness Equilibrium = Real Happiness

Dr. Anjana: That’s a fascinating perspective! But Professor, in daily life, we often experience moments of conflicting emotions—for example, suppose you get the news of fetching a prestigious business order. You are in good mood. But while going to office you get stuck in heavy traffic and start fuming. How does this idea play into your theory?

Prof. Shrivastav: Good question. Every moment of our day is like a miniature tug-of-war between happiness and unhappiness. The activitieswe engage in may bring us pleasure or irritation. If we enjoy an activity, it means we have achieved the happiness equilibrium for that activity. will call it micro happiness equilibrium (micro-HE). Conversely, if an activity does not bring us happiness, our micro-HE associated with it is in a disturbed state.

To maintain stable happiness, we need to achieve micro-HEs across all activities throughout the day. A truly happy day requires enjoying each activity and attaining micro-happiness equilibrium in every aspect of our daily routine.

Dr. Anjana: Would you please suggest how to cut down the unhappiness in the above example?

Prof. Shrivastav: Well, you can reduce unhappiness by assuring yourself that the traffic jam would be over after a short time. You can pacify yourself telling that traffic problem is there because other commuters are under pressure to commute. They too are facing traffic blues. Also during traffic jams you may check your emails, reply letters read books, listen audios etc. The unhappiness will vanish and you will attain traffic related micro HE.

Dr. Anjana: That makes sense. But what about those personal thresholds that determine how much we need from each aspect of our life to feel content?

Prof. Shrivastav: That’s where the concept of the Happiness Equilibrium Point, or HEP, enters the picture. A Equilibrium Point (HEP) is the stage at which one acquires happiness equilibrium or stable happiness . If the HEP is low it easier to achieve and retain the HE. If we want too much, our HE point will be very high and difficult to achieve. Let me explain the concept of HEP by following example:

Imagine two individuals, X and Y, with different food choices—for person X, a simple, ordinary meal might suffice, whereas person Y might require a gourmet experience. Y wants savory dishes with starters and desserts of his choice; He wants excellent services and ambience. In effect, person X has a low HEP for food, and person Y a high one. Person X would attain food related micro-HE easily; Y on the other hand would find it difficult to get food of his choice and hence would have disturbed food related micro-HE.

Your HEP or micro-HP is shaped by what you require to feel satisfied; set it too high, and it becomes harder to achieve stable happiness, while a more modest HEP paves the way for a smoother journey toward equilibrium. Too less HEP may harm you in long run. In the above referred example if X has too little HEP, it means he does not care for food. He may fall sick.

Dr. Anjana: Interesting! Would you please throw light on those aspects that make a person happy like money, health, relationship and so on.

Prof. Shrivastav: Sure. Every individual derives happiness from a unique set of aspects—be it money, safety, respect, creativity, or even the simple joys of hobbies. These aspects are what I happiness parameters (HPs).

Prominent happiness parameters are (not in any order):

For each parameter, we attach a desired satisfaction level, which I term the Parameter Equilibrium Level (HPEL). Together, these parameters, coupled with their HPELs, form your Parameter Set (HPS). Essentially, if you reach the desired satisfaction level on all parameters in your HPS, you achieve overall happiness equilibrium. Over time, through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, our HPS naturally evolves based on our experiences and changing circumstances.

Dr. Anjana: It sounds that HPS is fundamental to long-term happiness. But what happens when these parameters conflict? For example, when adventurous desires contradict the need for safety?

Prof. Shrivastav: That is an excellent point. To have a stable HE, your selected happiness parameters must be compatible. If two parameters are at odds—say safety versus adventure—the pursuit of one can undermine the satisfaction of the other. Therefore, a careful audit of your HPS is vital. Choose those parameters that harmonize with your overall life circumstances and values, ensuring they’re ethical, socially acceptable, and do not create internal conflicts. Otherwise, you risk a continuous state of partial fulfillment and persistent unhappiness.

Dr. Anjana: Once we know what makes us happy, how can we work toward maximizing that net happiness?

Prof. Shrivastav: The journey to maximizing happiness involves both adjustment and initiative. If some parameters of your HPS aren’t meeting your HPEL, you have a few strategies at your disposal:

1. Increase Capabilities and Resources: Work to boost the factors that are lagging. For instance, if financial satisfaction is lacking, investing in skills or opportunities may help.
2. Downsize Unmet Expectations: If your goals feel out of reach, temporarily lowering your HPEL can bring more balance. It’s about recalibrating that your expectations align with current resources.
3. Drop Incompatible or Overbearing Parameters: Identify parameters that consistently cause more distress than satisfaction and consider removing or adjusting them.

Additionally, maintaining stable happiness is easier when you keep a “reasonably lower” number of maintaining factors and expectations. Over time, what once served as a motivational boost can become a maintenance burden if we become overly accustomed to it. Balancing short-term gains with long-term along with cultivating emotional stability, is the key.

Dr. Anjana: In practical terms, how can one monitor this balance between short term and long term gains.

Prof. Shrivastav: It begins with mindfulness. When you sense unhappiness—whether on a minor or significant scale—pause and assess which happiness parameters are unmet. Reflect on whether expectations need lowering or certain aspects need a boost through improved resources or mindset. Essentially, by frequently auditing your micro-HEs—every step from your morning routine to your work interactions—you’re continuously steering yourself toward overall HE. Small adjustments now and then can result in substantial improvements in net happiness over time.

Dr. Anjana: Professor, in our discussion so far you’ve outlined many essential happiness parameters such as money, safety, respect, creativity, and relationships. But many of our readers often mention other sources of fulfillment. Could you share more examples of happiness parameters that people might consider in creating their unique Happiness Parameter Set (HPS)?

Prof. Shrivastav: Certainly. In addition to the parameters we’ve discussed, there are several others that can significantly contribute to one’s net happiness. For instance, consider the joy derived from artistic expression—whether it’s painting, playing music, writing poetry, or engaging with any form of creative art. These activities nurture your soul and provide a deep sense of personal achievement.

Another important parameter is intellectual curiosity. For many, the pursuit of knowledge through continuous learning, reading, and experiencing new ideas elevates their sense of self and satisfaction. This intellectual engagement fuels a sense of progress and exploration that can be profoundly gratifying.

Furthermore, service and volunteering offer a unique kind of fulfillment. Helping others or contributing to your community—whether through mentorship, charity work, or social activism—builds a legacy and connects you to causes larger than yourself. This sense of service can be a cornerstone of lasting happiness.

Your connection with nature like spending time outdoors, enjoying fresh air or simply appreciating natural beauty can act as a powerful rejuvenator. For many, a clean, serene environment fortifies emotional stability and energizes their spirit.

Additionally, work-life balance is an increasingly vital parameter. Achieving a flexible schedule that allows time for family, personal interests and rest can make a world of difference in maintaining your overall equilibrium. This also ties into the idea of emotional resilience, where practices such as mindfulness, meditation, or even simply a consistent routine of self-care contribute to an enduring sense of well-being.

Lastly, consider the parameter of personal legacy—the satisfaction that comes from mentoring the next generation, leaving an impactful mark on your community, or building something that lasts beyond your own lifetime. This drives not only a sense of achievement but fosters a lasting emotional connection to your work and contributions to society.

Dr. Anjana: It’s fascinating how diverse our sources of happiness can be. Each of these additional parameters—from artistic expression to personal legacy—shows that our paths to contentment are as unique as our fingerprints. It all boils down to understanding which elements resonate with our personality, values, and long-term aspirations.

Prof. Shrivastav: Exactly. The beauty of the Happiness Equilibrium concept is that it encourages you to conduct a personal audit of your HPS. Each parameter—be it financial security, creative fulfillment, intellectual growth, community contribution, nature connection, or work-life harmony—has its own influence on overall net happiness. As you evolve; and your life circumstances change, so too can your priorities. By periodically reassessing and adjusting the roles these parameters play, you can ensure that your happiness equilibrium remains robust and long lasting.

Dr. Anjana: As we draw this conversation to a close, what final thoughts would you leave our readers with?

Prof. Shrivastav: Remember, real happiness isn’t about chasing an elusive, perfect state; it’s about balancing the forces that make you happy against those that do not. By understanding and managing your personal Happiness Parameter Set, recalibrating expectations, and nurturing emotional stability, you place yourself firmly on the path toward achieving—and maintaining—a stable happiness equilibrium---the Real Happiness. God lead you to the Real Happiness.