Happiness can hold a place in someones life without meaning being attached. There are many ways to achieve this type of happiness as well. People who are happy tend to be the ones that think life is easier, they usually have enough money to buy most of the things that they desire, and they are mostly physically fit. A happy lifestyle can be associated or defined as lack of stress or worry.

Knowing this it is easy to make the accusation that it is better to live a happy life.Those who live happy lives will not be as stressed out or worrisome. For example we can look at a commonly viewed reality television show, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. These women live extremely lavish lifestyles that they appreciate. They are stress free and happy, their lives portrayed on the show are exactly what they would’ve imagined.

Those who live a life of meaning have issues such as higher stress levels due to things like arguing a lot. Though they claim a meaningful life is so fulfilling they also experience extremely high levels of anxiety. For example having children is associated with a meaningful life but studies show it correlates to a lower percentage of happiness according to the parents. Why does everyone automatically associate meaning with happiness. If something said to being meaning to ones life lowers their happiness it obviously can be achieved aside of meaning.

There is a difference between getting what one wants and getting what one needs. Getting what one needs fills the void in their life, that void will be filled with happiness. It is unnecessary to have the drama and stress of meaning go along with it. Happiness revolves around the present and living in the moment, something a lot of people need to learn how to do. By slowing down and living in the moment so many things and opportunities can come out of life.

Works Cited 

http://www.overcomingbias.com/2013/07/happiness-vs-meaning.html

http://aeon.co/magazine/psychology/do-you-want-a-meaningful-life-or-a-happy-one/