Happiness is similar to the word "freedom" , in that it can mean anything to anyone (with freedom used in equal measure by rebels, despots and used car salesmen

Happiness is similar to the word "freedom" , in that it can mean anything to anyone (with freedom used in equal measure by rebels, despots and used car salesmen). Words like these are more used for emotional aesthetics rather than a descriptive expression. These words are so persistent in our culture because they essentially have no meaning. It doesn't matter how the article or "happiness experts" define happiness because their definitions are circumstantial and irrelevant. The meaningless of the word "happiness" remains intact. It's closer to a secular faith than an actual phenomenon. Yes you might've felt happy but a persistent state of "happiness" is more a sign of a manic episode than an actual reality you can buy for yourself or hire someone (like the ridiculous people in the article) to achieve.