Are Mitzvot Meant to Make Us Happy?

Our Sages taught us: "Hashem desired to make Israel meritorious; therefore, He gave them an abundance of Torah and mitzvot" (Makkot 23b). From this, we learn that mitzvot are meant to grant us merits and are for our benefit. Each mitzvah we perform brings us closer to Hashem, elevating our earthly lives to become more spiritual, and consequently, happier.

Mitzvot are intended to benefit us both in this world and the next, as individuals and as a nation. Each mitzvah has many reasons, some of which reveal themselves only in the long term. Maimonides in the Guide for the Perplexed describes mitzvot that affect us psychologically. For example, the prohibition against eating meat with blood instills a sense of respect and appreciation for creation. Dietary laws, in the long run, foster a greater love for life, contrasting those who treat creation and animals with disregard, potentially leading to a disdain for life over time. Another example: Our Sages taught that maintaining purity between a couple helps both the man and the woman rekindle their love over the years without it diminishing. Beyond the external reasons for mitzvot, there are also spiritual reasons hidden from us—not only in the immense reward they grant in the World to Come, but also in what they repair in our eternal souls—spiritual changes we can't see in this world but will witness once we complete our mission and return to the World to Come. Mitzvot refine the soul and elevate it, as our Sages stated: "Mitzvot were given only to refine people" (Bereshit Rabbah 44). Just as a diamond is polished from dirt and the stone attached to it, so do mitzvot purify and prepare the souls for the World to Come.

It is highly recommended to acquire the famous book, Sefer HaChinuch, which explains each mitzvah in the Torah, its reasoning, and brings our hearts closer to the fulfillment of mitzvot. When you see the tip of the iceberg of the practical benefits of mitzvot, you'll realize how they work even deeper within our souls. Tefillin, for example, instill in our hearts the reverence for Hashem by accepting the yoke of Heaven, as Maimonides wrote in Hilchot Tefillin (Chapter 4): "The sanctity of tefillin is great. As long as the tefillin are on a person's head and arm, he is humble and God-fearing, doesn't engage in idle talk, nor think sinful thoughts, but rather redirects his heart to words of truth and justice." Through tefillin, we daily subdue our evil inclination, sanctify ourselves momentarily, and dedicate our hearts to our Father in Heaven. The tefillin contain the sacred parshiyot recounting the Exodus from Egypt, serving as a reminder of Hashem's great deeds and our devotion to Him.

But what about happiness?

We first need to distinguish between joy, which is temporary and sometimes deceitful, and true happiness. Joy can arise from foolishness, entertainment, jokes, songs, and similar sources. A person who feels joy now isn't necessarily happy. Even a depressed individual might laugh at something, but that doesn't change the fact that they're still depressed. In contrast, a soldier on an important mission in battle might feel happy and enthusiastic even when hungry and tired.

The word "happiness" comes from the word "approval," meaning a person feels good about their actions and is content with themselves. When you listen to music or hear a good joke, you might feel temporary joy, but not happiness, and when it ends, emptiness returns. In contrast, when you pray and perform mitzvot, you feel true happiness because your actions are approved. You know you've gathered diamonds for the World to Come, brought your people closer to complete redemption, and advanced yourself towards life's most important goal. Your joy is internal because you understand that your actions are pleasing before the Creator of the Universe.

Note that a day when you wore tefillin is not like a day when you didn't. Tefillin impart holiness throughout the day, instilling a sense of self-satisfaction, achieving a goal, another victory over the evil inclination, and a small sacrifice you've made for Hashem, who desires your goodness. The entire day feels different after wearing tefillin, and this sensation underlies your experience. You don't feel emptiness when doing Hashem's will, because you're nourishing your soul.

This means that even if a mitzvah is sometimes difficult or inconvenient, you will still be happy to perform it. Notice that you don't regret the mitzvot you have done, no matter how challenging. Mitzvot are like diamonds you hold in your lap, and the knowledge of them accompanies you and provides an internal approval. This is the true feeling of happiness—the knowledge that you are doing the right thing in your life—and this feeling of approval always accompanies you.

Therefore, the answer to your question is that mitzvot connect you to Hashem, to the divine soul within you, and make you happy, not just joyous.