any ideas?

You have possibly asked for the easiest and the hardest task for any human to accomplish.

maybe the first step is to identify what makes us unhappy first.

I tend to think that Unhappiness is cause when desire is unfulfilled.

The more you desire and the more this desire is not fulfilled the unhappy you become...

So could happiness be found by desiring only that which can be achieved?

subjective authenticity, approval and the ability and tendency to be able to forgive one's self (or convince yourself that jesus has, which is somewhat less effective regarding emotional stability and in fact, jesus most likely isn't and you have to kind of jack yourself into a brainwashed kind fallacy of authoritative tripe to "accept jesus" to believe that he is, which IMO undermines the the structure of the conceptual relationships that subjectively comprise the context of the person doing the accepting - though all that and jesus is a actually a pretty good hype story for projected (projecting self onto an imaginary construct (part of itself) that forgives self) self-forgiveness). without forgiveness looms guilt. generally excessive guilt strains portions of the psyche that run deeply through that which we think of as self. Stretching it brings a slew of dillema, leading to obsession, jealousy, hatred, blah blah, lots of problems I think, as we all know that people can snap if stretched too far.

In western culture, 'happiness' is a bit of a dogma. Everybody has to be happy. In heaven, you will be happy forever.

I don't think it works that way. Eternal happiness will be boring. It is contrasting emotions which make things interesting.

We describe happiness as a postive state. There are a lot of things to be said against this view.

Biologicly, it is impossible to be 'happy' all the time. The hormones involved would kill you.

Positive happiness is entangled with fulfilled desires. Desires are formed in the mind. Mind and reality are two different things. Happiness can't last.

Also, happiness seems to be confused with jokes, laughing, smiling, saying silly things, feeling light headed... All too often artificial modi operandi, masking the fundamental unhappiness, because of the ridiculous strife for ideas.

The Greek philosophers and the practicers of eastern religion search for negative happiness, which is a more realistic concept: being freed from desire (which means being without thought, cause our mind often just serves our desires).

I think the quest for happiness as proposed by the media and western culture in general, is a perversion. It is impossible, undesirable and it makes lots of people unhappy, because they wonder why they can't achieve the ideal of society.

The happiness industry is what makes the economy blossom. Often we buy things because we think they will make us happy. Commercials and many other aspects of life, like social relations, make us believe this nonsense.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to destroy their ego. Just realise that it is playing games with you, and don't believe everything it tells you.

People forget that just being here is often interesting enough. Focusing on all kinds of ideas and ideals makes for unhappy people.

Look at your keyboard. Look at your monitor. Really look at them. See them as the strange objects they are. Be marvelled by every day life. Keep practicing this method of perceiving, and your urge for the big idea of 'happiness' will vaporize. And that is a good thing.

A4ever,

are you suggesting that it is the extreme of the ideal of happiness that is causing so much unhappiness. (I think this is what you mean)

So maybe the desire for happiness it self is a cause for unhappiness, Unfullfilled desire leading to unhappiness.

A4ever, is this what you are saying?

Try walking in the forest or some natural areas that there are no humans or buildings. I find that by getting back to nature every once in a while for a day or two I get reenergized about what is really great about living. Nature seems to have a self healing way about it, if you let it. This oneness with nature sure brings me a true happiness that nothing else can, except maybe loveones.

Quantum Quack,

Maybe to the bare essence, yes, that is what I am saying. But you can not reduce a cultural phenomenon to one statement. It is a complex problem.

very true, it is not so simple to curb ones desires this is for sure.

How about a happy meal?

Try to do things in love. Try to forgive yours and others failings. Stop wishing for the impossible.

Originally posted by Quantum Quack
So could happiness be found by desiring only that which can be achieved?

No. How do you decide what is in your grasp, what is that you can accomplish. We have high hopes when we take on tasks that are alein to us. I still get down after failing to achieve a simple task because i had high hopes built up and was excited to see that tasks completion.

Example: A ridiculously easy shot in a pool game. All i have to do is cut the ball on it's right genlty to get it in yet i fail because i get too assured of my self, i felt like crap because i was generally off my game that day but that shot was so damn EASY.

I think happiness can be found when we go into endeavors expecting nothing.......technically getting something any positive results then should be pleasing and no positive results expected.


But a wise man once said "When you expect nothing, you expect too much"

I don't look for happiness. Satisfaction will suffice ;)

I was thinking sort of along the same lines as sargentlard. If you want happiness, aim low.

Too many people want what is out of their grasp and in trying to reach/achieve/fulfill this want, they fall short and end up unhappy. Going into a situation expecting nothing or very little will most often reap the most rewards in my experience.