I believe that the meaning of happiness portrayed here in America is empty. In America, happiness largely depends on money, beauty, status, etc. It's about making lots of money and having a successful occupation. It's about having High-Definition televisions and the newest phone or mp3 player. These things, though, are all material. I do not believe they will bring me true happiness.
If what my culture has told me will bring me happiness (material goods and occupational success) will not, what is the true bringer of happiness?
I think it has something to do with acceptance. When you accept that happiness is a part of life that comes and goes, you'll no longer have to struggle with it. When something is imposed on you, like socially-defined standards of happiness, you resist (don't accept) it because it doesn't make sense for you. I think this means you have to define happiness for yourself, and recognize (accept) that even self-evaluated happiness comes and goes.
The true bringer of happiness? Multiple things. The true recipient of happiness? You.
Interesting question! For me, Happiness is still a tricky word. I had a shot at trying to define it in a more "scientific" or "objective" way, despite it being a subjective feeling:
http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/08/what-is-happiness/
I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks,Nick
The POTENTIAL from happpiness comes through self-realization: the realization that you have just had (about realizing that happiness does not come come from objects but from within). What makes me say this is that you wouldn't have come to this realization should you not have had a clear, mature outlook on reality as you do- you are on the right path mentally, and this is good.
HAPPINESS however would have to be dragged out of you and come into existence by you rehearsing the philosophies that you tell yourself, deriving some type of meaning from them, and using them to better your life.
You are not alone. Here in Singapore, we face pretty much the same thing. Except nations like Butan, I suppose the measure of happiness is really not anything different.
I think contentment (not complacency) is the key to true happiness. There is a Chinese saying: 知脚常乐 zhi zu chang le which literally means a content person is always happy!
But we have to admit that while money and the like ain't everything, it is essential =)
And also, keeping oneself positive helps too!
Be happy! Stay happy! =)
Hi D-Rock,
True happiness is what you can contribute, not what you get. I am a big advocate of volunteering. Theretrue meaning happiness are volunteer opportunities in almost any area of interest. You meet terrific people who are likeminded in that they have an altruistic nature and aren't wrapped up in what they can get.
I don't believe that we are either entitled or destined to be happy. I believe we can be content and satisfied by what we do for others.
Owning "things" has a brief shelf life. We very soon desire more to add to our collection.
i dont believe that 'materials' are happiness.. it's just LUXURY.
it only makes you feel good that you have it..
i believe that true happiness come from whatever you choose life to be..
i choose life to be enjoyable.
-be ignorant of small petty details.
-look at the bigger picture: what you want to be, what YOU want (not materials)..
just look at the bigger picture.. i cannot explain my happiness. its harder to put in words.
Contentment, joy, and self-fulfillment are the main ingredients for happiness. However, different people are made happy by different things. All humans are pretty much wired the same way by evolution, so what makes most of us happy is family, friends, sex, good health, financial security and a general sense of self-fulfillment.
Some people (ascetics) can deceive themselves to be happy by denying their desires. This gives them a delusional sense of power and fulfillment.
Happiness is about our circumstances; joy is about our relationship with God. Know that God can help you live a better life if you want Him to help you. You can have a personal relationship with God by saying the prayer below. God is our Creator, all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal, holy, love. God loves us and sent us His Son, Jesus Christ, so we can go to heaven if we know and follow Him. Forever means without end -- time on and on without death. Forever is what happens after we die. Either we go to heaven and be with God forever, or we go to hell which is very bad and painful forever. The good people who are saved believers in Jesus Christ go to heaven. The bad people go to hell. We need to know and follow God in this world to get to heaven in the next world. We follow God by loving and obeying Him and loving others for Him. Jesus Christ, God's Son, is our bridge to God. Jesus died on the cross to cancel our sins. We need to accept Jesus into our life as our Lord and Savior forever to receive God's blessing and forgiveness plus go to heaven to be with God forever after we die. This is about being a born-again Christian. Faith in God is a gift from God. You can pray for faith in God. Just speak out and ask God for the faith to believe in Him and to follow Him. Some ptrue meaning happinesseople find faith in God when they realize the beauty in the world is made by God. Evolution can't explain the world's natural beauty, for example, the parks in the world, animals, flowers, peacocks, sunsets, butterflies, rainbows, etc. After you have your faith on, you can pray a sinner's prayer to be a born-again Christian. This prayer is very important and should be said with a sincere heart and faith in God. This is the prayer: "Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and that Jesus Christ is the sacrifice for our sins. I have done the following sins (state these out) and I pray to discontinue these sins. I pray to receive Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior forever. In Jesus' name, amen." I'm Lutheran and I like the Baptist churches too. You could check out a Christian church and also see about their weekly Bible study group as a good way to learn about God's will for your life. You can pray to God about your daily life and have a Christian church pray for you.
Books make me happy. They are also material possessions. Is that bad? I don't think so. If I find real joy in reading, then why should that not be considered happiness? Simply because it wasn't another human being who made me happy?
Happiness is just a joyful feeling, or feeling like, at that moment, nothing is wrong. If money makes someone feel that way, then why is it wrong? Why is it not true happiness? MP3 players (another word for that would tons of great music in the palm of your hand) are really cool, dandy little things; why shouldn't that make me happy? Music is a wonderful part of everyone's life, and an Ipod is another great way to listen to it, whenever and wherever you want. Of course that is reason to be happy. Music is wonderful stuff!
Sure, there are other, more "meaningful" things that could make a person happy, like family and friends. Which, by the way, *is* something that makes most everyone in America happy. But family and friends aren't the only ones that can make a person happy. Being out in the wilderness might make someone happy. Taking photographs can make a person happy. Fishing. Shopping. Rock Climbing. Writing. There are lots of things that make people happy.
But it isn't the *things* themselves that make them happy. It's putting them to use. It isn't the bike, it's *riding* the bike. It isn't the tree, it's *climbing* the tree. It isn't the book, it's *reading* the book.
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