Abstract

All religions accept that happiness is the ultimate goal in living as per the tenets of a particular faith. In the Christian faith, happiness is expressed as joy, seen to be the more permanent form of happiness. Happiness at work for a Christian is a mindset that is built on the fact that service rendered through work is done for and on behalf of God. Colossians 3:23: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men”. Happiness in this context flows from a combination of many things: attitude, assumptions, beliefs, and dependency on a higher calling from a superior God. This chapter briefly reviews the general stance toward happiness from the lens of multiple major religions. It subsequently engages in a deliberation about happiness, explaining that happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings such as enjoyment, pleasure, and satisfaction. The chapter next presents a view on the changing paradigms in today’s work environments, and how these relate to happiness. By way of providing more clarity into the topic at hand, the authors then review existing theories of happiness. Aside from scanning existing literature, the authors also took a proactive approach toward the topic, by asking individuals about the reasons they experienced happiness at work. The chapter finally prescribes ways in which Christians generally perceive happiness at work.