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Im not sure how much this will help you, but getting some rest and short trips(to a river or lake for some swim, i kinda like that) get me in high moods for a couple of weeks, also getting drunk once or twice a month helps a lot too.
Humility is the biggest key to making somebody happy. Knowing your place and adjusting it for others' happiness. Ignorance and arrogance are the biggest obstacles in the way of humility.
How can you be humble if you don't understand how things are? How can you be humble when you are the absolute opposite of humble to begin with?
How can you be humble if you don't understand how things are? How can you be humble when you are the absolute opposite of humble to begin with?
I have a feeling that you were thinking of something in particular while typing this...
Did you know arrogance, ignorance, greed you name it can also be a from of happiness?
As I said before every individual have their own way of happiness.
As I said before every individual have their own way of happiness.
Those would be what I would define as "selfish happiness". However, happiness that is based only upon yourself is ultimately not healthy, nor lasting.
It may sound a bit corny, but I am pretty sure that we humans are social beings, and it's not quite possible to be really happy without taking into consideration the well-being and happiness of those near (and precious) to us.
Of course, there are exceptions due to mental illness or chemical imbalances, but in those situations "everything goes" and no definitions can be applied.
That's my impression on the issue, thoughts?
It may sound a bit corny, but I am pretty sure that we humans are social beings, and it's not quite possible to be really happy without taking into consideration the well-being and happiness of those near (and precious) to us.
Of course, there are exceptions due to mental illness or chemical imbalances, but in those situations "everything goes" and no definitions can be applied.
That's my impression on the issue, thoughts?
Yes one. Happiness IS a lack of balance. So I don't understand your point.SK7000 said:
That's my impression on the issue, thoughts?
Mnessie, you should expand on that subject. I think, from your past posts, that you believe that happiness is some sort of non-natural state of mind. As if it were an aberration... or as you call it, an imbalance.
Even though people's lives and moods do go up and down every day, I think that we can compare the "neutral" states of different people and still reach the conclusion that some people are in average happier (or sadder, or more depressed, or more excited, and so on) than others.
When people express a desire for happiness, I wouldn't take that to mean temporary happiness (unless it's a child with a craving that needs be satisfied...), but I would think it refers to shifting their "neutral, default state" towards something better.
Or would you believe that your normal state, by it's very nature, cannot ever be happy? Or it's more of a semantic issue, perhaps? Phrased differently, I'd be trying to argue here short-term happiness versus long-term happiness, and I take your post to mean "there is no long-term happiness", is that so?
I suppose happiness needs first be defined to know where we stand, I think we have different opinions on what it entails.
Even though people's lives and moods do go up and down every day, I think that we can compare the "neutral" states of different people and still reach the conclusion that some people are in average happier (or sadder, or more depressed, or more excited, and so on) than others.
When people express a desire for happiness, I wouldn't take that to mean temporary happiness (unless it's a child with a craving that needs be satisfied...), but I would think it refers to shifting their "neutral, default state" towards something better.
Or would you believe that your normal state, by it's very nature, cannot ever be happy? Or it's more of a semantic issue, perhaps? Phrased differently, I'd be trying to argue here short-term happiness versus long-term happiness, and I take your post to mean "there is no long-term happiness", is that so?
I suppose happiness needs first be defined to know where we stand, I think we have different opinions on what it entails.
Happiness is just happiness. There's nothing really complex to it. Everybody has different tastes and ideals, so happiness is different with everybody.
I was thinking about other things I should put down, but nothing came to mind.
I was thinking about other things I should put down, but nothing came to mind.
That's a circular definition which clears nothing up xD' Specially when you have two people who seem to disagree on what something should mean.
I thought about it myself, and I think I can define happiness as "the joy of living". As such, people who are happy seem to filled with joyous emotions towards the prospect of life. They will smile, speak excitingly about things to come (or already happening) and so on and so forth. A good symbolism of happiness would be those kids who are excited about everything.
Of course, then that opens the door for another question. Since most adults are nowhere near as excited/energized as children are about life, does it mean they are not happy? Does expressing your joy for life in less obvious ways makes it less joyful somehow?
When I leave my work, and I look at the sunset skies, I often take a deep breath and think "it's a beautiful day, these are beautiful skies." I think that's happiness, too, just expressed in a slightly different way.
Damn, I think defining happiness is turning out to be a lot more complex than I thought it would be. How do you manage to keep it simple, Goggles? @_@'
I thought about it myself, and I think I can define happiness as "the joy of living". As such, people who are happy seem to filled with joyous emotions towards the prospect of life. They will smile, speak excitingly about things to come (or already happening) and so on and so forth. A good symbolism of happiness would be those kids who are excited about everything.
Of course, then that opens the door for another question. Since most adults are nowhere near as excited/energized as children are about life, does it mean they are not happy? Does expressing your joy for life in less obvious ways makes it less joyful somehow?
When I leave my work, and I look at the sunset skies, I often take a deep breath and think "it's a beautiful day, these are beautiful skies." I think that's happiness, too, just expressed in a slightly different way.
Damn, I think defining happiness is turning out to be a lot more complex than I thought it would be. How do you manage to keep it simple, Goggles? @_@'
I can enjoy the beauty of so many things. I make the guy from american dream look like the he hates the plastic bag. Well...almost.
I can even find myself enjoying the simple patterns of a stone and appreciate its structure from the microscopic level realizing the complexity and structure of it. Some people think I just stopped being there when they look at me stare at them, or they freak out. In either case I can stare at something for so long....It just means I'm out playing in my head with some idea and I don't need to be "here" right now.
In fact I can find the most simple things in life so enthralling It can make or break my day. There is a catch however. Most of the times I find myself bored and too low on energy to care about anything in the world. My eyes will tell me of more beauty than most people will understand. I hope to be proven wrong on this though, as it would be sinfully wasteful not to appreciate it.
Your: "assumption" is quite accurate.
Because of my constant sad and gloomy state however I can imagine myself being "happy" in an infinite world of nothing. In fact.......I work on that every day. Sometimes I even get so detached from "reality" I have to pull myself back before I start attempting to "play" with the world. (You may find this crazy, it probably is. But please do consider that this is my way explaining one my peculiar and somewhat private mindset. I'd appreciate a fair view now more than ever).
I was partially considering meditation for this amongst other reasons. To see if I could enter such a state from discipline and technique.
I can even find myself enjoying the simple patterns of a stone and appreciate its structure from the microscopic level realizing the complexity and structure of it. Some people think I just stopped being there when they look at me stare at them, or they freak out. In either case I can stare at something for so long....It just means I'm out playing in my head with some idea and I don't need to be "here" right now.
In fact I can find the most simple things in life so enthralling It can make or break my day. There is a catch however. Most of the times I find myself bored and too low on energy to care about anything in the world. My eyes will tell me of more beauty than most people will understand. I hope to be proven wrong on this though, as it would be sinfully wasteful not to appreciate it.
Your: "assumption" is quite accurate.
Because of my constant sad and gloomy state however I can imagine myself being "happy" in an infinite world of nothing. In fact.......I work on that every day. Sometimes I even get so detached from "reality" I have to pull myself back before I start attempting to "play" with the world. (You may find this crazy, it probably is. But please do consider that this is my way explaining one my peculiar and somewhat private mindset. I'd appreciate a fair view now more than ever).
I was partially considering meditation for this amongst other reasons. To see if I could enter such a state from discipline and technique.
Believe it or not, I find myself more at home in your post, than most other posts on this site.
Similar things occur to me regularly.
Like SKy000 said some people are just happy living. I consider myself one of them.
My definition of happiness would be as follows:
And you don't have to be energetic to be happy.
Similar things occur to me regularly.
Like SKy000 said some people are just happy living. I consider myself one of them.
My definition of happiness would be as follows:
Yes, most of my happiness comes by choice. That's how I am "happy" almost every day. Sometimes, like Stahn said, "contentement"(or what you call it) takes the place of happiness.A moment, when I decide that I want to forget things(reality) for a while, and let that moment be the essence of my existence. I let go of everyday "thoughts" and fill my mind with a simple, but extremely biased and naive analysis of that moment, imagining all of it's minor wonders, common miracles, hidden universes, you name it.
And you don't have to be energetic to be happy.
You do? Interesting. And here I was thinking we had so preciously little in common. I'm not sure about speaking about the opinions of the others so quickly though. I have found myself wrong about judging characters and personalities learning every single time and my conclusion is somewhat simple. People are hard to read, and even harder to really understand. Doing so requires time, effort, consideration and respect but most of all a lot of responsibilty.Gregol said:
Believe it or not, I find myself more at home in your post, than most other posts on this site.
Similar things occur to me regularly.
Thank You! I'm glad I can agree with you on this tidbit at the end of your post.Gregol said:
And you don't have to be energetic to be happy.
"...and sometimes all it takes is the will to leap"
quoting Anakin "Skyguy" Skywalker from Star Wars Clone Wars
(I must admit, the series was crap. Dropped it after the first season)
Can't be right without ever being wrong, is what I'm trying to say. Or that's my method at least. You do seem like the person who tries to never get anything wrong.
quoting Anakin "Skyguy" Skywalker from Star Wars Clone Wars
(I must admit, the series was crap. Dropped it after the first season)
Can't be right without ever being wrong, is what I'm trying to say. Or that's my method at least. You do seem like the person who tries to never get anything wrong.
You're more right about that than you may realize at this point. Jackpot if you can guess the WHY of it right in one go. Instant +1000 pointsGregol said:
You do seem like the person who tries to never get anything wrong.
Hmm... HMM... mind if I throw a random "made out of thin-air" hypothesis here?Mnessie said:
[...]
Because of my constant sad and gloomy state however I can imagine myself being "happy" in an infinite world of nothing. In fact.......I work on that every day.
[...]
WARNING: Long philosophical explanation of how humans personally perceive life and the model they develop to cope with it.
Now, with all the groundwork in place, my hypothesis is: what if the belief that people cannot be innately happy is born out of a feeling that because you are not innately happy, it'd be better to believe that nobody is?
I know a friend who's just a rainbow of smiles 24/7. She's always cheerful and whenever you are not talking to her, she's most likely day-dreaming and lost in her own thoughts appreciating [the day/the walls/the sky/life/etc]. She reminds me of a child with her innocence and pure heart. In fact, she's probably the most lovable person I know (and dozens of friends who would do anything for her would agree with that).
Now, I don't know what definition of "happiness" we are using in this thread, but I can't think of one that doesn't apply to her, innately. I am an emo-kid compared to her. So, my life experience tells me that some people can be happy, innately, to the core of their beings.
And well, as Mark Twain says, this is the model I have created for my view of the world. There for anybody curious (or bored enough to read) about it.
I don't know...Mnessie said:
You're more right about that than you may realize at this point. Jackpot if you can guess the WHY of it right in one go. Instant +1000 points
Maybe you don't even know yourself!!
I'd say it's just a personal phobia of yours, that your excessively rational mind tries to justify/explain in logical terms by creating a believable hypothesis, which you yourself find convincing.
And a bit of sarcasm
AAHHH!! I fell for your psychological trap in my search for wealth, glory and +1000 points!!
Unfair advantage of being happy? UNFAIR ADVANTAGE??? ... I can only laugh here..... how can you call happiness an advantage? If those <insert insult here> sad people can't learn how to be happy, leave them die in sadness! I don't care at all about them. I only care about close friends. More like I don't like it when they are sad, so I cheer them up for my own pleasure. Because I'm enjoying life.
Let's see.... when I broke up with my ex... I felt really sad during the break up talk. After we were done, we broke up, I felt sad for a few moments after. Then I felt no sadness at all. The next day I was felt really happy. /shrug
Sad/Depressed people, just learn to kill the sadness/depression. There's no use keeping it.
I will only keep one kind of sadness. For a certain reason that I don't think it's necessary to be mentioned. Same goes for the kind of sadness I will keep.
Let's see.... when I broke up with my ex... I felt really sad during the break up talk. After we were done, we broke up, I felt sad for a few moments after. Then I felt no sadness at all. The next day I was felt really happy. /shrug
Sad/Depressed people, just learn to kill the sadness/depression. There's no use keeping it.
I will only keep one kind of sadness. For a certain reason that I don't think it's necessary to be mentioned. Same goes for the kind of sadness I will keep.
If everybody here could think like that!!!!!
*weeps*
*weeps*
Actually, if everybody thought like that this would be a world of anarchism. A bit of empathy goes a long way to developing a kind heart. And a kind heart does not stop just at the people we know or care about the most.
Of course, rejecting those that would otherwise only bring our mood down is but one survival method, we can't all succeed at cheering up everybody all the time.
Though, if your response to that is to be sad yourself, then... well, you are certainly gonna ruin your enjoyment of life xP Maybe you should start considering ways of making others happier, instead of making yourself sadder for them.
Of course, rejecting those that would otherwise only bring our mood down is but one survival method, we can't all succeed at cheering up everybody all the time.
Thanks to the Internet and the global connectivity it brings, you can be certain you will never be too far away from people who aren't doing in the best of moods. You just can't ignore the pain of others no more :OGregol said (in another thread):
[...] but paradoxically, I find it wrong to be happy when someone near me is sad.
Though, if your response to that is to be sad yourself, then... well, you are certainly gonna ruin your enjoyment of life xP Maybe you should start considering ways of making others happier, instead of making yourself sadder for them.
LOL
that's why i initially started this thread!
I wanted to know how to avoid being sad and make people happy!
Brilliant, we are, what, 50 posts in, and we only STARTED to understand the question at hand...
that's why i initially started this thread!
I wanted to know how to avoid being sad and make people happy!
Brilliant, we are, what, 50 posts in, and we only STARTED to understand the question at hand...
Watch or play all or atleast one of them of VisualArt's Key works aka, Air, Kanon, Clannad, Little Busters! and probably even Rewrite.
There you have a very good examples on happiness!
There you have a very good examples on happiness!
RE: GregolGregol said:
I don't know...
Maybe you don't even know yourself!!
I'd say it's just a personal phobia of yours, that your excessively rational mind tries to justify/explain in logical terms by creating a believable hypothesis, which you yourself find convincing.
And a bit of sarcasm
AAHHH!! I fell for your psychological trap in my search for wealth, glory and +1000 points!!
RE: SK7000SK7000 said:
Now, with all the groundwork in place, my hypothesis is: what if the belief that people cannot be innately happy is born out of a feeling that because you are not innately happy, it'd be better to believe that nobody is?
I know a friend who's just a rainbow of smiles 24/7.
Rainbows and sunshine --> Exit, all rain here
RE: TensaTensa said:
Sad/Depressed people, just learn to kill the sadness/depression. There's no use keeping it.
Are you implying that other people are more important to you than yourself? If so it's called romantic love, but aside from that, like... just for friends?SK7000 said:
-sip-
Well unless making others happy makes you happy in the process or just by simply making them happy makes you happy.
For me it's simple to kill of sad emotions.
@Mnessie:
If you like sadness, then I can't stop you. But if it bothers you, just learn to kill it. It's for YOUR own good.
I would sooner challenge you to stop denying your own emotions and live your life to the fullest as a human rather than an incomplete one. I will never embrace this view. We are as people everything we are, denial will not make life easier but harder. I just hope you realize how dangerous stacking such a large pile will be on the long run before it decides to rear its head without your consent. I honestly do.Tensa said:
@Mnessie:
If you like sadness, then I can't stop you. But if it bothers you, just learn to kill it. It's for YOUR own good.
Some general thoughts:
@Tensa: it isn't about making other people more important than you, it is realizing that other people are as important as you. It's accepting that we are all sibling souls in this world, and we all share a common quest towards happiness (or, on the very least, a quest to stop suffering), thus there's no reason to spend time quarreling, ignoring, or demeaning others.
@Mnessie: I guess I wasn't clear on what the hypothesis was (am I ever?), but that's okay, I rather prefer it that way. I did manage to convey some thoughts I had on the matter, which I think is more useful.
Some musings on a definition for happiness
To both @Tensa and @Mnessie:
It isn't about killing feelings. Your feelings are what they are, they are there, they come and they go. It's up to you how you handle them. Sad feelings is not something you just "kill" or "ignore", it's something you accept, something you understand. Once you grasp the nature of your negative feelings, they stop having a hold on you, and they stop controlling your life.
It's the difference between someone losing their parents and becoming a stronger person because of it (after a time of mourning) and someone who also lost their parents and instead loses all hope on life and goes on to be a depressed zombie to the end of his days.
PS @Mnessie (about my friend)
@Tensa: it isn't about making other people more important than you, it is realizing that other people are as important as you. It's accepting that we are all sibling souls in this world, and we all share a common quest towards happiness (or, on the very least, a quest to stop suffering), thus there's no reason to spend time quarreling, ignoring, or demeaning others.
@Mnessie: I guess I wasn't clear on what the hypothesis was (am I ever?), but that's okay, I rather prefer it that way. I did manage to convey some thoughts I had on the matter, which I think is more useful.
Some musings on a definition for happiness
To both @Tensa and @Mnessie:
It isn't about killing feelings. Your feelings are what they are, they are there, they come and they go. It's up to you how you handle them. Sad feelings is not something you just "kill" or "ignore", it's something you accept, something you understand. Once you grasp the nature of your negative feelings, they stop having a hold on you, and they stop controlling your life.
It's the difference between someone losing their parents and becoming a stronger person because of it (after a time of mourning) and someone who also lost their parents and instead loses all hope on life and goes on to be a depressed zombie to the end of his days.
PS @Mnessie (about my friend)
@mnessie
I don't know how you can consider yourself and everything else insignificant...
"gods make their own importance"(guess what poet I'm quoting)
Importance/significance is only relative, and each living creature has their own significance/importance scale, just like there are as many justices as there are people(IMO this is an argument for religion, but let's not get into that)
Part of "the test, that life is," is deciding what is important to you and what that importance signifies to you.
Sure, you are puny and powerless compared to, say, a star out in space.
But the star is also insignificant compared to you.
It will never be able to influence your existence, or use you, like we will probably be able to use it in the distant future.(but you can use the sun, even if it influences you)
Your significance lies in the fact, that you yourself can decide what your significance is.
I don't know how you can consider yourself and everything else insignificant...
"gods make their own importance"(guess what poet I'm quoting)
Importance/significance is only relative, and each living creature has their own significance/importance scale, just like there are as many justices as there are people(IMO this is an argument for religion, but let's not get into that)
Part of "the test, that life is," is deciding what is important to you and what that importance signifies to you.
Sure, you are puny and powerless compared to, say, a star out in space.
But the star is also insignificant compared to you.
It will never be able to influence your existence, or use you, like we will probably be able to use it in the distant future.(but you can use the sun, even if it influences you)
Your significance lies in the fact, that you yourself can decide what your significance is.
@SK: That's what I meant by kill. Sorry if I can't express myself properly.
Also if parents die, in my case, there would be sadness. But damn it to be attached like a tentacle to your parents is stupid. Sure they are your parents, they loved you, you loved them. Now try to grow up and stop being depressed because of it because there are other people in your life that you will love.
Anyway, regarding whatever whoever said/wrote, it's how they feel. You can't say to someone that you'll destroy your life by removing your negative emotions. That's what you think and believe. That's what you want to believe. You don't understand how the other person feels. So to all this, don't tell me what to do, Mnessie. It's my fking life and I'm happy the way I am. I don't give a freak about sad moments. I accept everything the way it is. Because fuck, what is life? What's the meaning of life? No human can answer that correctly. Only in an opinion and belief.
Is this place turning into a psychological battleground? Please.... my mind ain't easily changed no matter what a psychologist says. If I'm wrong I'm freaking wrong because I'm a stubborn human! Hahahahaha!
Besides. I'm not allowed to be sad. If the one I love sees me being sad she'll be sad as well. And I don't want to see her sad.
Happiness is simple. But when sadness comes about, everything becomes complicated.
Also, don't interpret whatever is written above in an irritated or angry or whatever negative manner of speech. It's only positive. Because I'm not angry.
Also if parents die, in my case, there would be sadness. But damn it to be attached like a tentacle to your parents is stupid. Sure they are your parents, they loved you, you loved them. Now try to grow up and stop being depressed because of it because there are other people in your life that you will love.
Anyway, regarding whatever whoever said/wrote, it's how they feel. You can't say to someone that you'll destroy your life by removing your negative emotions. That's what you think and believe. That's what you want to believe. You don't understand how the other person feels. So to all this, don't tell me what to do, Mnessie. It's my fking life and I'm happy the way I am. I don't give a freak about sad moments. I accept everything the way it is. Because fuck, what is life? What's the meaning of life? No human can answer that correctly. Only in an opinion and belief.
Is this place turning into a psychological battleground? Please.... my mind ain't easily changed no matter what a psychologist says. If I'm wrong I'm freaking wrong because I'm a stubborn human! Hahahahaha!
Besides. I'm not allowed to be sad. If the one I love sees me being sad she'll be sad as well. And I don't want to see her sad.
Happiness is simple. But when sadness comes about, everything becomes complicated.
Also, don't interpret whatever is written above in an irritated or angry or whatever negative manner of speech. It's only positive. Because I'm not angry.
I immediately imagined you saying it in an angry voice...Tensa said:
Because I'm not angry.
I understand what you are trying to say. I don't think there is a point right now in you and me talking about this further.Tensa said:
clamp
As a matter of fact I was consedering moving on again anyway. I can't stay in one place to long without getting bored...and then some.... anyway. So you won't have to in any case.
Not yet though. There's still a couple of things I gotta figure out >_>
SK7000
about 1 year agoIt'll be a huge ethical issue for a lot of people, and a lot of other sceptics will ramble on and on about the unseen side-effects. It'll be a very messy ride for a long time. But probably, it's for the best. If there are any complications, those who refused to undergo treatment will save humanity from extinction.
We may consider that "taking a pill to be happy" is side-stepping the issue. But would you say the same if we had some pill that kept our health at perfect state, regardless of how little exercise,how much junk food you fed your body, or how much you smoked? The lines between right and wrong, good or bad, will be so blurry they may as well no longer exist.
Fortunately, it may still be many years before we get there, and it won't even be our discussion to deal with. Though it might be an important issue for our offspring (or their's).