Every decision we’ve ever made, are making now, or will make in the future is driven by our desire to be happy. Understanding this is crucial, as our choices — past, present and future — shape the trajectory of our lives and the businesses we lead.
Happiness is so essential in life that Thomas Jefferson enshrined “the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. He believed citizens had the right to seek happiness by creating and living a fulfilling life, not just acquiring material wealth.
Centuries after the Declaration of Independence was written, we have strayed from this vision. Today, the focus is more on the self rather than what we, as Catholics, call a life of virtue or a life of good habits naturally oriented toward contributing to the common good. For most people, the primary motivation is seeking out and enjoying earthly pleasures, serving themselves rather than others, and neglecting the deeper fulfillment that comes from selfless contribution.
The Link Between Happiness and Its Pursuit
Our happiness — or unhappiness — stems from the type of happiness we seek on which level of happiness. Father Robert Spitzer has written extensively on the four levels of happiness, providing insight into why some pursuits leave us empty while others bring true, lasting joy. His model is a key to self-understanding and a powerful tool for attaining authentic fulfillment. The levels form a hierarchy, where each level offers deeper, more meaningful and more enduring happiness.
Level 1: Pleasure-Based Happiness
The foundational level of happiness is derived from external pleasures: food, entertainment, comfort and all forms of sensory gratification. While these provide quick bursts of satisfaction, they are fleeting and require constant renewal. Relying solely on bodily pleasures can lead to addiction, emptiness and long-term dissatisfaction. When people realize that physical pleasure alone does not create lasting fulfillment, they often seek something more meaningful, leading them to Level 2 happiness.
Level 2: Ego-Driven Happiness
Level 2 happiness revolves around ego gratification: success, recognition, status, power, control and constant validation. This type of happiness is more sustainable than Level 1 but remains unstable. There will always be someone wealthier, smarter or more admired. The constant comparison, competition and fear of losing status can create stress and insecurity.
Many people get stuck here, believing that working harder and achieving more will bring them the happiness they crave, only to find themselves burned out, stressed and unfulfilled. Mass marketing messages, especially those promoting high-end products and services, further reinforce this trap, which leverage our confirmation bias by appealing to our ego-driven (Level 2) desires. Luxury brands, for example, reinforce the idea that their products signify success, status and exclusivity, aligning with the self-perceptions or aspirations of their target audience who are stuck in Level 2 happiness.
Crossing the Chasm: Moving to Level 3 Happiness
Level 3 happiness emerges from the desire to make a positive difference for others or contribute to making the world a better place. This transition is often difficult, like crossing a deep chasm, because it requires shifting away from self-centered motivations.
The impetus for this shift usually comes from the realization that pleasure and success alone do not bring lasting fulfillment. Some experience an existential vacuum, feeling empty despite having everything they once desired. For others, failures, setbacks or personal losses break the illusion that external success guarantees inner happiness.
At Level 3, the focus shifts from self to others. This level is about moving beyond ego and self-interest to serve others, building meaningful relationships, and creating a positive impact in the world. It is characterized by the desire for connection, contribution and self-giving love.
Level 4: Transcendent Happiness
The highest level, Level 4 happiness, is what Father Spitzer calls transcendent happiness: the fulfillment of the deepest desires of the soul. These desires correspond to what classical philosophy, particularly the thought of Plato and St. Thomas Aquinas, refers to as the transcendentals: truth, goodness, beauty, love and being.
The transcendentals guide people beyond fleeting pleasure and ego-driven success, leading them to a life of deeper meaning, love and, ultimately, a discovery and connection with God. At this stage, happiness is no longer contingent on worldly success but is rooted in eternal and unchanging realities.
Although the four levels of happiness form a hierarchy, we shouldn't abandon the lower levels but integrate them properly into our lives. Each level has value, but problems arise when we allow the lower levels to dominate. Pleasure, enjoyed in moderation, should support higher pursuits, like sharing meals with loved ones rather than simply overindulging. Likewise, professional achievement and recognition help us grow and develop skills necessary for contributing to the common good.
The Catch: Your Dominant Level of Happiness Defines Your Life
Many people cycle between Levels 1 and 2, constantly chasing pleasure and success while wondering why they still feel unfulfilled. The good news is that lasting joy is possible, but it requires moving beyond self-interest and into love, service and ultimate purpose. Those who reach higher levels of happiness often find peace, meaning and enduring happiness even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.
The level of happiness that is dominant in your life defines your ultimate purpose. As a leader of an organization, it also shapes your mission, vision and especially your organization’s culture, which, ultimately, is your greatest competitive advantage.
