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What's the key to long-lasting happiness?
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Happiness is an emotion and being an emotion its impossible to maintain all the time.
Contentment, fulfillment, peace are states of being, that's what I shoot for. My faith as a Christian helps me in so many ways in that aspect that I do find myself happy quite a bit but overall I'm content and at peace.
Contentment, fulfillment, peace are states of being, that's what I shoot for. My faith as a Christian helps me in so many ways in that aspect that I do find myself happy quite a bit but overall I'm content and at peace.
They can be the best thing and they can be the worst thing. I've found an incredible mate, I cannot imagine life without her.
For me, happiness is being content with yourself and your life. Be who you are and don't try to be someone or something you're not. Don't go around trying to impress others and be humble. Be objective when looking at matters, try to see things from others perspective.
Be kind to others and treat them as you wish to be treated.
Find a balance in your life between work, play and family.
Manage your finances appropriately, consider budgeting, and it will undoubtedly lead to less stress in your life.
I've turned to guided meditation in my life in the last six months with www.headspace.com and it's helped me tremendously.
Be kind to others and treat them as you wish to be treated.
Find a balance in your life between work, play and family.
Manage your finances appropriately, consider budgeting, and it will undoubtedly lead to less stress in your life.
I've turned to guided meditation in my life in the last six months with www.headspace.com and it's helped me tremendously.
Hang on, I thought I'd blocked that guy
Never mind. It's not him.
So what are you? Part of his "coterie", or his "entourage". 'Cause he has both, you know.
Sorry, I'm afraid I'm not qualified to be in either. My bank account doesn't have enough zeros in it
(Actually, it has plenty, just not the right place
)Helicopters scare the living **** out of me, three fights, Manhattan NYC 2001, Annecy to Albertville French Alps 2000, Eindhoven to Amsterdam 1999.
I thought how can anybody in their right minds like helicopters, and then I remembered you like Crackers.
My opinion is that (for myself) happiness requires the feeling of accomplishment and a state of mental and physical comfort, which varies with individuals as to what that comfort includes, including affordability of options that allow for mobility and being able to experience what you need to experience in your life.
For myself, happiness has consisted of achieving the goal of working at a job I loved and paid well (making the things I need to be affordable), exercising, (specifically running changed my life for the better), exploring what I want to explore, and interactions with a small group friends and family, (although at this point in time I have acquaintances, but no close friends by my choosing. I regard people as mostly pains in the butt, with occasional positive aspects). Of high importance is entertaining myself, and learning about my existence as a member of this Universe. Oddly though I don't spend as much time as I thought I would learning scientific details. I guess being difficult to digest, it's not that important to me.
To critique myself, I've seen examples of people, some famous who devote their lives to helping others, and I start wondering, what's wrong with me? I thought when I retired, I'd make up for it by volunteering to help others at a shelter, soup kitchen, or Habitat for Humanity (which I might still do, although my physical abilities are on the decline), but I've discovered that presently, I have no desire to do this, even though I'd consider it to be a worthy endeavor. I'm not ready to say there is something wrong with me, but I've realized, I can only do the things I want to do, not do what I think a person is supposed to do.
I think I'm selfish, but wonder how selfish we all are based on the individual parameters we need? It may sound like I'm trying to make excuses for myself (maybe I am) but aren't those people who devote their lives to others being selfish in that they are doing what they need to do for themselves, that makes them happy? I think it relates to a premise that I've proposed in this forum before about "choice" as in how much intellectual choice do we really have? If I finally get off my butt and seak out a HFH work site, did I choose this or did all the appropriate cogs in my brain click and I had no choice, but to act on this desire? This is something I've spent time contemplating, with no real answer.
What in your opinion is the goal?
For myself, happiness has consisted of achieving the goal of working at a job I loved and paid well (making the things I need to be affordable), exercising, (specifically running changed my life for the better), exploring what I want to explore, and interactions with a small group friends and family, (although at this point in time I have acquaintances, but no close friends by my choosing. I regard people as mostly pains in the butt, with occasional positive aspects).
Of high importance is entertaining myself, and learning about my existence as a member of this Universe. Oddly though I don't spend as much time as I thought I would learning scientific details. I guess being difficult to digest, it's not that important to me.To critique myself, I've seen examples of people, some famous who devote their lives to helping others, and I start wondering, what's wrong with me? I thought when I retired, I'd make up for it by volunteering to help others at a shelter, soup kitchen, or Habitat for Humanity (which I might still do, although my physical abilities are on the decline), but I've discovered that presently, I have no desire to do this, even though I'd consider it to be a worthy endeavor. I'm not ready to say there is something wrong with me, but I've realized, I can only do the things I want to do, not do what I think a person is supposed to do.
I think I'm selfish, but wonder how selfish we all are based on the individual parameters we need? It may sound like I'm trying to make excuses for myself (maybe I am
) but aren't those people who devote their lives to others being selfish in that they are doing what they need to do for themselves, that makes them happy? I think it relates to a premise that I've proposed in this forum before about "choice" as in how much intellectual choice do we really have? If I finally get off my butt and seak out a HFH work site, did I choose this or did all the appropriate cogs in my brain click and I had no choice, but to act on this desire? This is something I've spent time contemplating, with no real answer. What in your opinion is the goal?
I'm not too familiar with Zen, but it won't turn you into a Buddhist Monk.
The first ten sessions are free and after that it's a subscription fee, or you can buy a lifetime subscription. I used a code GETSOMEHEADSPACE to get like 20% off too. I signed up for one year several months ago and I don't regret it.
You can get the sessions via the website, an iOS, Android, or Windows device too.
I'm not too familiar with Zen, but it won't turn you into a Buddhist Monk.
The first ten sessions are free and after that it's a subscription fee, or you can buy a lifetime subscription. I used a code GETSOMEHEADSPACE to get like 20% off too. I signed up for one year several months ago and I don't regret it.
You can get the sessions via the website, an iOS, Android, or Windows device too.
View attachment 560261
I'll check it out. Thanks!
Well, as a person of faith, my worldview would define our existence, and thus our purpose, as related to our relationship with God. But, in addition to that, happiness is a feeling rooted in circumstances. In this article about relationships the author describes it well:
In a follow-up article the same author writes:
This article is another interesting read that contrasts happiness with joy.
And finally, this PBS article talks extensively about happiness and how modern psychology is studying it.
All emotions are abstract concepts and thus, difficult to universally define and measure. That being said, my view is that there is such a thing as absolute truth and with that our ability to be happy or experience joy is ultimately rooted in our ability to align with the purposes for which we exist. I know others won't share this view, but that is my answer to the question posed by the OP.
Helicopters scare the living **** out of me, three fights, Manhattan NYC 2001, Annecy to Albertville French Alps 2000, Eindhoven to Amsterdam 1999.
I thought how can anybody in their right minds like helicopters, and then I remembered you like Crackers.
Three trips in a helicopter? You, sir, have lived the dream.
And it's cheese I like. Crackers love cheese, remember?
Seek out experiences, not things and stuff. I realized I was happiest when I was doing something or going somewhere new - and especially when I was sharing it with someone else.
Ever find yourself in a position to change someone elses' life for the better? It is an incredible and humbling place to be.
Ever find yourself in a position to change someone elses' life for the better? It is an incredible and humbling place to be.
Happiness is a choice. So it's really just your mindset. I think one thing is to appreciate what you already have. Since often we feel bad when we are wanting something else and frustrates us when we can't have it.
My opinion is that (for myself) happiness requires the feeling of accomplishment and a state of mental and physical comfort, which varies with individuals as to what that comfort includes, including affordability of options that allow for mobility and being able to experience what you need to experience in your life.
For myself, happiness has consisted of achieving the goal of working at a job I loved and paid well (making the things I need to be affordable), exercising, (specifically running changed my life for the better), exploring what I want to explore, and interactions with a small group friends and family, (although at this point in time I have acquaintances, but no close friends by my choosing. I regard people as mostly pains in the butt, with occasional positive aspects).
To critique myself, I've seen examples of people, some famous who devote their lives to helping others, and I start wondering, what's wrong with me? I thought when I retired, I'd make up for it by volunteering to help others at a shelter, soup kitchen, or Habitat for Humanity (which I might still do, although my physical abilities are on the decline), but I've discovered that presently, I have no desire to do this, even though I'd consider it to be a worthy endeavor. I'm not ready to say there is something wrong with me, but I've realized, I can only do the things I want to do, not do what I think a person is supposed to do.
I think I'm selfish, but wonder how selfish we all are based on the individual parameters we need? It may sound like I'm trying to make excuses for myself (maybe I am
What in your opinion is the goal?
No, I don't think that you are selfish; rather, I think that you know yourself, and know your strengths, limitations and what you can tolerate, deal with, and, equally important, what you can't.
Re idealism, or philanthrophy, and the whole idea of volunteering 'to do good', while I think it hugely admirable, - and have enormous respect for people who work in such environments - I have also come to the conclusion that you can best contribute in a way that accords with your own disposition, personality, and temperament and - perhaps - professional expertise.
