Shhh!!! The secret to happiness lies in this thread!

[lisztisforkids]

Do what you enjoy. 

What about you guys?

[aewanko]

Define happiness

[thalberg]

Define happiness

Perpetual possession of the good?

[Essyne]

a pint of green tea ice cream and perfect trills???

. . .  nevermind - that's heaven  . . .

[pianochick93]

a pint of green tea ice cream and perfect trills???

. . .  nevermind - that's heaven  . . .

Hear hear!

[Bob]

I think it's ignorance and acceptance.

Ignorance is bliss.  And if you accept things and don't try to change them, you're probably a lot happier. 


But really, why is it a "secret?"  The secret to practicing, the secret to learning, the secret to teaching... the secret to happiness?  Why a secret?  And who's keeping the secret from whom?

[wotgoplunk]

Ignorance is bliss.  And if you accept things and don't try to change them, you're probably a lot happier. 

True empathy would block anyone from having too much happiness.

And would you say intelligent people are less happy?

[Bob]

Yes, I would.

[rc]

So if somebody's happy they're probably ignorant?

hmmm... I DO think something's off when somebody seems to be overly happy all the time.

Well, I think ignorance would be more frustrating.  Always going around making the same mistakes, never learning, never getting anywhere....  Or would this theoretical person be ignorant of their going in circles?  I think people who're going nowhere know this on some level, they're just really good at denial and distracting themselves.

I saw a half-hour philosophy show on TV the other day, that told Epicurus's recipe for happiness: friends, freedom and reflection.  I find friends self-explanatory, when I'm a hermit things start getting meaningless if I can't share with others somehow.  Freedom's a big one too, that includes not being a wage-slave which is connected with frugal living, since if we don't feel the need to own that castle, that boat, etc then we don't have to spend as much time making money to live.  Reflection, to think over issues and problems, to count blessings.  Even mired in a bad situation, a huge weight is lifted just by being able to figure out a solution.

[Essyne]

I tend to look at "happiness" as a fleeting thing (i.e. "happy ppl being ignorant) while "joyousness" is something that comes from enlightenment/spiritual growth - - - Joyousness is much more meaningful and cannot be taken away from you; in other words, it isn't measured by earthly treasures . . . (ehh - - - sorry for the unintentional rhyming there - i'm a poet and don't even know it! . . . or not  )

EDIT : okay . .. in WHAT WORLD "Measured" and "treasures" rhyme, I have no clue - - - but I really need to combat my insomnia and actually SLEEP tonight! (4 hours in 2 nights = weird stuff!)

[zheer]

 Being unhappy for me is often due to things which i have little or no control over, external things, so basically i do not suffer from any mental illness. So to just do things that make me happy is not the solution. Sometimes i feel that am really being tested, the test is usually can i make it through the hard times once again. I like what Silvester Stalone said, " in life we get knocked down when we least expect it, and lifes great drama is getting back up". Man thats so true, bad things always happen but if we learn from it and move on, we gain a lot we become better people, more sensative to people . So basically bad things sometimes happen for a good reason, happiness should not be our goal or destination.

[Bob]

I worked with some kids with special needs.  Sooo freaking happy about everything.  I was kind of surprised.  And impressed.  It really made me stop and think when someone is in actual awe of you playing music.  And really affected by music too. 

It think it's just a trade off.  Happiness vs. Progress and achievement.  There is an intellectual happiness from achieving.  Of course, it's not the same thing though.  "In the moment" happiness sounds a lot better.


So it's a secret?  Why?

And why are we supposed to keep it secret?  The shh?  Why shh happiness?  Are we supposed to tell a few select people and leave everyone else unhappy?

[prometheus]

Don't desire for anything, not even happiness.

[lisztisforkids]

Don't desire for anything, not even happiness.

 It really quite ironic- the moment we start to seek happiness or ask why is the moment we become unhappy..

[rc]

Don't desire for anything, not even happiness.

I don't believe I could ever accomplish such a thing.  Always must be on the move, forever working in some direction. Preferably not in a circle, as much a straight line as possible but it seems we must always be adjusting the course.  Desire is always behind the voyage, it's what comes before the first step.

[Bob]

(Bob pulls out a treasure chest.)

I have the true secret of happines, right here in this chest.  Ha!