I think my goal may have been happiness at the beginning and this path definitely allows access to happiness on a more consistent basis. But I think more importantly, there is less fluctuating between extremes of happiness and sadness. Through mindfulness you tend to develop an "okness" or acceptance of conditions whether they are positive, negative, or neutral. As that skill is honed, being mindful in and of itself generates positive states of mind i.e joy, equanimity. For instance, I just completed 45 minutes of sitting meditation and worked with sloth and torpor through 90% of the meditation. A year ago, I would have thrown a tantrum and stopped meditating. Now I can accept the situation for what it is and keep practicing which brings up some of those positive mind states, which includes happiness.