What does it take to be happy?
Question by Chase: What does it take to be happy?
Five, six, pick up sticks.
Okay so I have this long train of thought I’m going to share with you. I’m looking for someone to either agree with me or try to understand my concept and explain to me why I am wrong. I’m just a 17 year old kid so something I am lacking is experience which ultimately means that I am probably lacking wisdom.
Okay so what does it take for a person to be happy? Well obviously a lot of things, that’s not really my question. My question is do you think it is healthy to think on a deeper level? I think it depends on how deep you like to think. But overall there is a point when it can be a bad thing. The people who think deeply about the meaning of life (and those who have no religion) can easily find themselves getting depressed about the thought. The people who say “There’s really no point to life” are the ones who have thought about it. Now a lot of people think about it sometimes but some people think about it more often. Well there is really no point to thinking like that. Have you ever wondered what animals think of death? I’m sure most animals don’t even realize they are ever going to die. It’s something they’ve never experienced, why would they understand it? They don’t have a language or a mind complex enough to talk and think about it.
Here is my thought. People are happy because of the “reward system” in our anatomy. A lot of people think they need meaning in order for them to be happy. People who need meaning are deeper thinkers than those who don’t care. People who need meaning actually make it much harder to be happy because they separate the anchor between happiness and their actions or surroundings. Someone has fun playing a video game, we’ll say Halo 3. But then he starts to ask himself why he likes the game so much? After a couple months of thinking in that manner he doesn’t like halo 3 anymore. Why is that? Because he realizes that it is pointless in helping him get ahead in life. Nobody really cares if he wins a game every once in a while on there. He simply realizes that it is a pointless waste of time. That’s what a lot of older people think of video games nowadays. But when you really think about it, that’s just another path to happiness that he took from his life.
So here’s what I think is key to being happy: Not asking why it is that you are happy. But simply focusing on the present. Focus on what is happening around you and think a lot less philosophically. You only need to choose a path and take it. If you find yourself miserable, use your intelligence to fix the problem and change your path. Only think what makes you happy, not why it make you happy.
Best answer:
Answer by Susie
I think I get what you’re saying…is it like you could be a happy person but then you analyse your life and what you do with it, then realise maybe it’s not that productive, say, then that makes you miserable. So the key is not to worry about what makes you happy and why, just do it and be happy?
What do you think? Answer below!
People feel the need to dig for details. They want justification.
I think it’s healthy to think about why something makes you happy. It helps you distinguish the good things from the bad things.
Smoking makes people happy. Why does it make them happy? Because it feels good. But it isn’t good for them, and once the person realizes this, they’ll feel compelled to stop. Whereas something as harmless as having a long talk with your friends doesn’t really pose a threat to your well being. It’s called a conscience, it helps us think about why something makes us happy, and if it’s good for us or not.
Happiness is a state of mind you can be happy being some hobo how has nothing but the shoes on your feet, you thoughts dictate your happiness, people will disagree with me but i use to thnk i needed things to make me happy like wii or s boy friend or thingd like that, but then i read this book called The secret i dont know if you have heard of it, but it really changed my presepective and my personality, theres also i new book out by the same author called the power, iam just reading it now, you should read them.
you say : But simply focusing on the present.
see that another the book talks about there is no past presnt and future, time is an illusion.
but i agree with lots your saying. i dont think i ansered your question i kind of just ramblemd sorry.
Happiness is living and doing exactly what you want to do in life. If you discover a game in your life does not bring you happiness in the long run because it doesn’t matter in the scheme of things, then you have made a decision about how you want your life to be. You could ignore those feelings to think like that, but then you would be living just for the moment and not aspire for greater things than video games to make you happy. Sometimes a pleasurable distraction will make you happy, but when it doesn’t you need fulfilment.
This applies to the meaning of life as well, every one has different needs, some people find meaning in just existing, in religion, making money, relationships, or hobbies. The people that say there is no point to life, have not found their point or personal fulfilment. The people who think like that are ones who have thought about it, but cannot handle their perceived horrid truths.
There are my own horrid truths that I must bear, such as the frightening thought of never existing once I will die. As a personal safety mechanism, I enjoy the time I do get that much more.
I think deep thinking is something that should never stop, in the people who can handle it, and have a healthy enough mind to deal with their perceived truths.
I do not agree to you my friend.
I do not think that the deep thinkers are always depressed. In fact we should think deeply. I don’t see any point in living a meaningless point. The thing that differentiates humans and animals is that we think about thinking. What’s the point in just enjoying material things in this world and dieing?
Look at your self, you have thought about life, meaning of life, how to be happy …etc .I think it is deep thinking. Although according to me, you are wrong but still this is deep thinking. Is this making you depressed?
See it like this:
At any point of time every one performs such an action such that according to the doer that action wills give him maximum pleasure.
for example the video game player in your question, he likes to play the game so he plays it ,and now he do not like it but he like thinking about it so he thinks about it .at that point of time thinking is giving him maximum pleasure.
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its not the situation that make some one happy or unhappy
its the way the person takes the situation.
for example a poor who is homeless is unhappy because he do not hae money and cant afford a home for his family .this can make him depressed.and he thinks that if he had a house and not other facilities like electricity…etc will be enough .now if he gets a house and not other facilities he will be happy.
and a person who ows a house but cannot afford other facilities can also be depressed because he wants all the facilities for his family.
Well, you are a very thoughtful and insightful young man!
I would disagree with you in two ways, though– first, your sense of curiosity and insight is praiseworthy and valuable! Secondly, deep thinkers do not ALL believe life is meaningless and devoid of joy, lol. Some do, but not all. There does seem to be a certain kind of intelligent mind, that can reason itself to the point where things seem bleak, and yet reason no further.
That doesn’t mean you have to chose between being one of them, and living a totally unexamined life!
Why is self-reflection good? Well, among other things,
Examining happiness can help us determine whether something that gives us pleasure is a good thing for us.
Sometimes we enjoy things to excess or for an unhealthy reason, or a for reason that is inadequate to justify enjoying something that is perhaps bad for us.
To give a simple example, someone might enjoy, say, speeding. If they do not reflect on this, they may end up with a ticket, or worse still, in a serious accident.
Thinking about happiness can give us a lot of insight, and it sometimes helps us to discover how to be MORE happy.
And deep thinking need not be depressing, provided you *keep thinking* and don’t let go of Hope.
Very intelligent and introspective people can also be very happy people.
But it’s also important to remember, while examining these things, not to expect profound answers where they don’t belong. Let me explain.
First, I’m going to tell you a secret:
If you want to be happy,
the most important thing is this: you have to decide you’re going to be a happy person.
That’s first and foremost. Incredibly, very few people find that out. Remember it!
Deciding to be happy means many things,
including making the best of whatever situation you are in,
and as you said, using your judgment and intelligence to try to solve your problems.
But it also means taking the three kinds of actions that create happiness.
First, there are small actions that profit us only in a zen, moment by moment way,
like playing a game we enjoy or smelling a favourite scent.
Then there are actions that will benefit our future selves– for example, saving money, or exercising, or doing your homework, or adding to your 401k, or brushing your teeth. These sometimes may not be particularly enjoyable in the moment, but they store up a treasure trove of happiness for our future selves who will reap the benefits: fewer cavities, better grades, fewer money problems, etc.
If you want happiness then, start now!
Finally, there’s the introspection and actions that create happiness by finding and pursuing MEANING in our lives. This is different for everyone. It should have nothing to do with financial or material gain. It can mean Love, it can mean God or spirituality, it can mean learning new things or solving problems, or doing something kind for someone, it can mean creating or enjoying the Arts in some way, it can mean Family, or a Friendship or making the World a better place than you found it, even in some small way.
It can mean ANY or ALL of those things.
All three categories are important.
Sometimes, something can be in two categories (broccoli is delicious AND good for me, ha)
And some of the best things in life are in all three categories.
Imagine spending time with a person who has your sense of humor and makes you laugh (first category) is wise, gives you good advice, and encourages you to treat yourself well (second category) and with whom you build a long-lasting friendship (third category).
But the categories are still separate.
Broccoli is good for me, so my future self will get benefits,
but I also enjoy the taste, so I get present pleasure.
These are seperate causes of happiness.
Don’t mistake any one for another.
So, in short, I think
It’s okay to play a pointless game that you really enjoy,
provided you don;t mistake it for a happiness that gives your life meaning or benefits your future self. Recognize it for what it is: a momentary pleasure to be enjoyed in moderation.
And recognize when you are using it incorrectly–if you play the game all day and night instead of anything else, you are sacrificing your future unhappiness.
If you still find you really don’t enjoy it anymore, don’t worry–
Just move on to something else.
The world is full of opportunities to find happiness.
(by the by, as a side note on your comment about animals: you might want to read more about certain species, such as Elephants. You may be surprised!)
be happy!