The Algorithm of Happiness
Life works according to the principles of reality and causality. Happiness is merely the consequence of certain causes. In other words, our happiness actually depends on the quality of our ability to process reality.
Two people can experience the same event, yet experience different effects because they interpret reality differently.
Therefore, happiness is only an output. Reality, whatever its form, whether good or bad, is merely an input. That is why happiness, as an output, is not determined solely by the input (reality), but by how we process that reality. The way we process reality is called: an algorithm.
Simply, the mechanism can be described as follows:
Input → algorithm → output
The better the algorithm we use to process reality, the better our way of interpreting reality, thereby increasing our probability of achieving happiness.
About Algorithms
The algorithm I refer to here is the most fundamental life guideline of a person. It can be a belief, or a certain worldview.
As a Muslim, I adhere to the Islamic worldview. I use the Qur'an as an algorithm to process the reality I encounter.
Why the Qur'an?
The Qur'an has extraordinary textual stability for more than 14 centuries. Therefore, the Qur'an has a high level of originality and has been tested through various generations, even until today.
The Qur'an explains human psychology in a more structured way, which forms the basis of rationality in human happiness.
These characteristics position the Qur'an as a life algorithm with high credibility to be used as a life guideline. This high credibility ultimately increases the probability of achieving happiness.
The Qur'an does not only teach rituals. Beyond that, the Qur'an teaches how to view life correctly, how to interpret reality, how to respond to reality, and even teaches the concept of proper regret through the mechanism of sincere repentance.
If happiness is compared to the destination of a human life journey, then the Qur'an is a map that is truly accurate and authentic as it originally was. That is why the Qur'an remains relevant in every era.
If you doubt the Qur'an, you can compare it with other literature. Examine the consistency of its text, the depth of its discussion, the relevance of its application, and its psychological effects.
If the results of the comparison show equivalent quality, you may use it. If not, then the more rational option is to choose the algorithm that has a higher probability of producing happiness, namely the Qur'an.
Final Conclusion
Ultimately, your happiness is determined by the algorithm you use to process reality.
Everyone has the right to choose the algorithm they believe in, whether it is secularism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, or others.
However, as mentioned earlier, happiness is not determined only by reality, because reality is merely an input. Instead, happiness is determined by how we process reality through the algorithm — our life guideline — that we use.
Therefore, if you are not achieving happiness, the problem most likely lies in the algorithm you use, not merely in the reality you are facing.