When you’re excited for a day, you’re usually in a good spot and could be considered happy.

One could define being happy in life as being excited about your current situation, if this is by setting the next step in your life by buying a house, getting children or launching a product.

If a so called milestone does not bring you excitement, it might be worth reconsidering, and it might not make you happy as it’s not exciting.

Opposite of happiness

If happiness is excitement, the opposite is not sadness but boredom.

If your day to day is becoming a slog and boring it’s time to do something exciting and live a litte.

Reference

Ferriss, Timothy. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. Expanded and Updated ed., 1st revised ed, Crown Publishers, 2009.

Highlights or timestamps

The 4-Hour Workweek

the opposite of happiness isn’t sadness; it’s boredom. So the best definition of happiness is excitement.

— ^a523c3 from The 4-Hour Workweek

But the point is, buying a house, having an impressive job title, retiring with millions in the bank – none of this will bring you happiness if you’re not excited by what you’re doing with your life.

— ^05ec8a from The 4-Hour Workweek