Philosophical debates emerge over the nature of happiness

Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón has shared a provocative perspective on the nature of happiness during a podcast hosted by Vicky Martín Berrocal. Gascón argues that absolute happiness does not exist, describing it instead as the mere absence of suffering. She posits that human existence is fundamentally rooted in suffering, suggesting that what people perceive as happiness is simply a temporary pause or relief between periods of hardship.

In a different philosophical approach, writer and educator Elsa Punset challenges the myth of the perfect life as a prerequisite for well-being. Punset suggests that happiness is not found in achieving total control or perfection, but in living with an “open and awake heart.” She emphasizes emotional availability, presence, and the ability to embrace life's inherent imperfections and uncertainties rather than waiting for a flawless future to permit enjoyment.