German can be very misleading. It uses the same word ("Glück") for luck and happiness. This can lead to confusion. But even speakers of other languages often have trouble naming the kind of happiness they are looking for. The happiness of contentment is a different feeling, and is also arrived at in a different way, than the happiness gained by extraordinary athletic achievements or by having enriched the life of another person.
Experiencing all kinds of happiness at the same time would overwhelm us emotionally. We can and must decide which kind of happiness we desire and then take the road that will lead us to this exact kind of happiness.
Dynamic happiness
Experiencing adventures, celebrating, following something passionately, reaching goals, doing something meaningful, feeling the strength of our body and positively affecting our surroundings.
Quiet happiness
Moments of contentment with our life as it happens to be right now or compared to the life of others who are doing worse than we are. Joy about the things we have achieved in life and the feeling of external and internal security.
Shared happiness
Friendship, mutual affection, love within a relationship or family, experiencing others as real partners, sensing that we are important to others and that relationships are characterized by giving and receiving.
